New York, NY (June 29, 2017) – As the company continues its aggressive global expansion, Spirit Music Group announced today the promotion of David Renzer to the position of Chairman / CEO. Renzer was previously Chairman, Spirit Music Group.
As Chairman of Spirit, Renzer has spearheaded a rapid expansion of the company’s global activities through a variety of acquisitions, including the establishment of its successful Spirit Music Nashville office, the establishment of hot UK company Spirit / B-Unique Music, as well as exciting new divisions, including Spirit Music Latino and Spirit Production Music/Spirit Music Collective.The company is currently enjoying the global success of the #1 Ed Sheeran album , with eight songs co-written by Spirit- B Unique/ Polar writer Johnny McDaid. Other recent successes include publishing on albums by Rag N Bone Man, Chris Stapleton, and various #1 country singles, among many others.
In his position, Renzer will continue to oversee the thriving independent music publisher’s global activities, aggressive expansion plans, and its 75,000 song catalog spanning seven decades across every musical genre. Renzer will work closely with the company’s financial partners, strengthen the company’s global platform, grow the catalog, expand A&R outreach, and along with his team at Spirit develop and implement the company’s strategic objectives.
“Spirit has been one of the fastest growing independent music publishing companies and I’m thrilled with the progress that we have made and am proud of the team that we have built. We are also excited about the future of our company as we continue our ambitious growth. Spirit is truly a great home for songwriters, composers , and artists and an innovative home equipped to manage all music rights. A special thank you to our Board and financial partners for believing in our vision,” said Renzer.
Prior to joining Spirit Music Group, Renzer was Chairman & CEO of Universal Music Publishing Group, responsible for overseeing the activities of the company’s 57 offices in 47 countries. Under his leadership, Universal Music Publishing Group grew exponentially through direct signings and catalogue acquisitions, including the BMG Music Publishing, Zomba, Polygram, and Rondor catalogues. UMPG also became the global leader in the areas of Production Music, Christian, and Classical Music.
Renzer also started a Latin Music Division for Universal Music Publishing Group in 1996 that went on to win ASCAP’s Music Publisher of the Year honor four times and concluded deals with: Juan Gabriel, Juanes, Rudy Perez, Gustavo Santaolalla, A.B. Quintanilla III, Jorge Luis Piloto, Wisin & Yandel, the catalogs of Gloria and Emilio Estefan and more.
Major signings, renewals, and deals at Universal Music Publishing Group under Renzer include: the catalogues of Elton John/Bernie Taupin, Justin Bieber, Florence & The Machine, Eminem, Keith Urban, Mariah Carey, U2, Mary J. Blige, Justin Timberlake, Owl City, Alex Da Kid, Tricky Stewart, Leon Russell, Desmond Child, Robin Thicke, Sean Garrett, Jamie Foxx, Ester Dean, T-Pain, Dave Grohl, Elvis Costello, The Killers, Juanes, Paul Simon, Bon Jovi, Beastie Boys, 50 Cent, Danny Elfman, the catalogues of Jimi Hendrix, Leonard Bernstein, Bee Gees, Glen Ballard, Cash Money, Notting Hill Music Publishing. Renzer was also responsible for deals with Holland Dozier Holland and the Henry Mancini catalogues, Film/TV administration deals with Warner Bros. Pictures/Warner Bros. Television, DreamWorks, HBO, as well the acquisition of Interscope Publishing, All Nations, Epitaph, Momentum, Forerunner, Marantha Music, EMack, and the John Phillips catalogues.
Renzer began his career at Zomba Music Publishing, where he rose to SVP & GM. During his decade-long career there, Renzer helped Zomba achieve ASCAP’s R&B Publisher of the Year and Pop Publisher of the Year awards. While at MCA, the company was ASCAP Country Music Publisher of the Year.
Renzer’s was recently re-elected to serve on the board of the National Music Publishers Association (NMPA) He also serves on board of the Foundation for Ethnic Understanding, and Co Founded the Creative Community for Peace. He has also served as the Chairman of the Music and Entertainment Division of the City of Hope, and founded Songs of Hope, raising over $3 million for the City of Hope. Renzer is also a frequent speaker on entertainment industry panels.
Renzer is based out of both Spirit’s New York and Los Angeles offices.
ABOUT SPIRIT MUSIC:
Spirit Music Group, founded in 1995, is one of the world’s leading independent music publishers, owning and/or managing more than 75,000 songs spanning seven decades and every musical genre. The company’s repertoire reflects some of the most beloved songs and songwriters of all time, including hits by Frank Sinatra, Billie Holiday, Elvis Presley, Dion, Aretha Franklin, B.B. King, Santana, The Beach Boys, Barbra Streisand, Gladys Knight, Alice Cooper, Pure Prairie League, Chicago, Crosby, Stills & Nash, The Eagles, Brad Paisley, Chaka Khan, Anita Baker, The Go-Go’s, Madonna, Faith Hill, Tim McGraw, Mariah Carey, Jay-Z, Ricky Martin, Keith Urban, Usher, Dido, Jewel, Jason Aldean and Mary J. Blige; the complete catalogs of such iconic songwriters and writer/artists as Pete Townshend, Marc Bolan, Boz Scaggs, The Marshall Tucker Band, Toto, Billy Squier, Graham Nash, Joe Walsh, Charles Mingus, Alan and Marilyn Bergman, Henry Mancini, T.Bone Burnett, Rick Nowels, C&C Music Factory; and the breakthrough work of such newer artists as James Bay, John Newman, Chris Stapleton, Sam Hunt, Scissor Sisters, Matt & Kim, Kodaline, Zooey Deschanel, Eric Paslay, and Big Data.
Spirit has earned a strong reputation as an aggressive royalty administrator and a peerless promoter of its songs into film, television and advertising productions as well as a wide range of new media. In recent years, Spirit has helped transform the publisher’s role beyond royalty collection and song promotion to proactive career and legacy partnership by creating and executing marketing plans to revitalize its clients’ songs and expand their brands.
Spirit Music Group is headquartered in New York with offices in London, Los Angeles, Nashville and the Netherlands. Spirit is a portfolio company of Pegasus Capital Advisors, the New York-based private equity fund manager that has been providing creative capital and strategic solutions to growth companies since 1996.
