Music & Media International, Inc., founded in October 1997 by Billy Meshel former president of Arista Music Publishing and BMG Music Publishing U.S., and partner of All Nations Music Publishing. MMI, based in West Hollywood California, also with offices in Fullerton California (Orange County), is operated by Billy Meshel, CEO and John Massa, President, and has 13 foreign affiliates.
In February 2006, MMI successfully negotiated the sale of its owned copyright assets. Those assets included MMI’s acquisitions of all compositions written by blues legend Robert Johnson (including “Crossroads”, “Love In Vain”, “Sweet Home Chicago”, “Walkin’ Blues”) and hit song “Please Love Me Forever” by Bobby Vinton, “After The Lovin’” by Engelbert Humperdink, “I’m A Fool To Want You” by Frank Sinatra, Artie Kornfeld’s Luvlin Music (The Cowsills), Nick Gonzalez/Vogon Poetry (songs by Avalon, Jaci Velasquez), Michael Henderson (songs by Henderson, Norman Connors, The Dramatics) and the premier Southern Gospel Group The Crabb Family.
From October 1997 through the catalog sale in February 2006, MMI had acquired approximately 25 catalogs, including catalogs such as, Capitol Nashville recording artist Chris LeDoux, Pat DiNizio/The Smithereens, Roadshow Music Corporation (BT Express, Brass Construction, Enchantment, including many sampled works by artists such NWA, DMX, EPMD, Kid Rock, Bloodhound Gang), CCM writer/producers John & Dino Elefante, Rick Hall Music, Inc. (“I Swear”/All 4 One, “The Fear Of Being Alone”/Reba McEntire, “I Like It I Love It”/Tim McGraw, “Commitment”/Leann Rhimes, “I Am A Simple Man”/Ricky Van Shelton, CCM writer Robert Hartman/Petra, CCM artist Carman, McSpadden Smith Publishing (songs recorded by Chad Brock, SheDaisy, Faith Hill, Point Of Grace, Michael W. Smith, Trace Adkins). Other acquisitions include Jay King IV Publishing (Club Nouveau), Laughing Willow Music (“You Take My Breath Away” by Rex Smith, Brian Simpson (“The First Time” by Surface, Jetstar Publisher (songs by the Five Americans), Stephen Wiggins (Big Tent Revival).
MMI also specializes in the administration of catalogs owned by others. MMI has administration agreements with, Mike Chapman Publishing Enterprises (U.S. & Canada) (songs owned or written by producer/songwriter Mike Chapman, including “Simply The Best” by Tina Turner, “Love Is A Battlefield” by Pat Benatar, “Love Touch” by Rod
Stewart, and many other hits by Mike and the writers Holly Knight, J.P. Pennington, Greg Barnhill, Michael Desbarres), and Rak Publishing, Ltd. (U.S. & Canada), including the hits by Hot Chocolate (“You Sexy Thing”, “Brother Louie”, “Every 1’s A Winner”), Kim Wilde (“Kids In America”), Joan Jett (“I Love Rock N Roll”), and Bob Merrill/Golden Bell Songs, including “How Much Is That Doggie In The Window”, “Honeycomb” by Jimmie Rodgers,
“Make Yourself Comfortable” by Sarah Vaughn, and dozens of hits from the 50s by Guy Mitchell. Other administration clients include Phil Coulter/Four Seasons Music, Eddie Rabbitt, Marvin Young/Young M.C., Arista recording artist Blu Cantrell, Vanguard recording artist Peter Case, the PPX Catalog (Jimmy Cliff), The Sonny Lester Catalog (LRC, Ltd.) and LeRoy Marinell (co-writer of Warren Zevon’s “Werewolves Of London”).
All areas of exploitation are covered by MMI, including film and television, covers, samples usages, commercials, special markets, print and new media. Approximately 40% of MMI’s revenues are generated from new usages, as opposed to back catalog standard earnings. In every instance, after a purchase of a catalog or an acquisition of an administration agreement, new hits were spawned, including songs recorded by Jennifer Lopez, J-Lo, 2Pac, Bone, Thugs & Harmony, Chemical Brothers, DMX, Kid Rock, Ludacris, Luniz, Truth Hurts, NWA, Phats & Small, Puff Daddy, Shedaisy (3hits), Chad Brock (3 hits), Tim McGraw, The Crabb Family.
