Type Private company Area served Worldwide Founder Larry Spier Sr. | Industry Music entertainment Services Music publishing Founded 1923 | |
Website memorylanemusicgroup.com Headquarters New York City, New York, United States | ||
Memory Lane Music Group is a worldwide independent music publishing company established in 1923 by Larry Spier Sr.
Contents
History
The company began in 1923, when Larry Spier, Sr. wrote "Memory Lane", with Con Conrad and B.G. DeSylva. The song was a huge hit, later revived in the 1944 Abbott and Costello film In Society," and was Spier's entry into the music business. In 1928, he, Sam Coslow and Andy Britt composed the hit "Was It a Dream". With Coslow, Spier formed the music publishing company of Spier and Coslow in 1928.
In 1929, the company was sold to Paramount Pictures. The two split, with Coslow going on to become a movie producer and Spier starting a successful career as general manager of Chappell Music. While at Chappell, he was involved in such Broadway hits as Oklahoma!, Bloomer Girl, State Fair and South Pacific.
In 1938, Spier started Larry Spier Music Publishers Inc., to control "Memory Lane" and other valuable copyrights. His son, Larry Spier Jr., began working at the company in 1950, and in 1955, he took over as president picking up where is father left off with The Four Lads hit "Moments to Remember", which reached No. 2 on the Billboard Charts in 1955.
In the 1960s, Spier started Memory Lane Music Corp. to represent songwriters affiliated with BMI.
In 1979, Spier started Memory Lane Music Ltd., a UK-based company, to handle foreign administration and British reversionary rights.
Memory Lane Music (Australia) Ltd. Pty was formed in 1982 to manage copyrights in Australia and New Zealand.
The 1970s, 1980s and 1990s were productive years for the company with several dance hits, including "Babe We're Going to Love Tonight" and "Your Love", recorded by Lime, that were certified gold in France and Benelux. "Touch Me", recorded by Cathy DenNis, was a hit around the world and, in 1991, was awarded by ASCAP the title of "Top Performed Song".
In 1985, Memory Lane Music Corp. ventured into the record business producing the hit "Thinking About Your Love", written and recorded by Skipworth & Turner. The song reached No. 1 on the dance charts in both the United States and United Kingdom. Additionally, many reputable catalogs were signed including those of George Weiss, Ervin Drake, Larry Stock and Joseph Meyer.
In 2003, Larry's son, Mark Spier assumed the running of the company. In 2006, Scion Three Music (BMI) and Scion Four Music (ASCAP) were formed as Memory Lane's contemporary division. Over the past nine years, Scion has signed over 30 established and up-and-coming songwriters who have written for the likes of Beyoncé, Kelly Clarkson, Jennifer Lopez, Jay Z, Rihanna, Joss Stone, Snoop Dogg, Pink, Mary J. Blige, Swizz Beatz, Koda Kumi, Craig David and Jo Dee Messina.
In early 2009, Scion North and Scion Arctic (both SOCAN) were formed to handle the publishing of Canadian songwriters.
In 2012, Memory Lane Music Group opened an office in Los Angeles. and expanded its headquarters in New York.
Operations
Memory Lane Music Group administers the publishing rights of thousands of songs, controlling the libraries of artists including The Blakes and Nola Darling.
Writers and artists
Matthew Moss