Warner Chappell strikes global deal with France’s Kidding Aside – as electronic music indie launches publishing venture with Nicolas Klersy as Partner
Warner Chappell Music (WCM) has announced a global partnership with Kidding Aside, the independent French electronic music company, as it launches a dedicated publishing venture called Kidding Aside Publishing. The deal, unveiled on 9 September, sees Nicolas Klersy join as Partner and strategic lead for Publishing A&R. It reflects Warner Chappell's continued push into independent electronic and dance music, extending its footprint in the French scene and offering Kidding Aside's roster access to WCM's international network.
Kidding Aside was founded in Paris in 2015 by Matthieu Jay and spans artist management, publishing, recorded music and live events, alongside its All Night Long joint venture label with Believe. Its management roster includes acts such as Acid Arab, NTO and Trinix, while All Night Long represents artists including Folamour and Nico Moreno. Neither company disclosed financial terms or whether the agreement covers administration or co-publishing, but it follows a string of recent WCM tie-ups with independent labels, including deals with France's Bob Sinclar, Mexico's Rico o Muerto and Argentine songwriter Claudia Brant.
In short
- Warner Chappell partners globally with French indie label Kidding Aside
- Nicolas Klersy named Partner leading new Kidding Aside Publishing venture
- Deal terms undisclosed; part of WCM's wider dance/indie expansion push
Explained simply
Music publishing involves managing the rights to songs and collecting royalties when they are used, for example in recordings, performances or films. It is separate from releasing recordings, managing artists or organising live events, though music companies may work across several of these areas.
Kidding Aside is a Paris-based independent music company founded by Matthieu Jay in 2015. It works in electronic music across artist management, recorded music, publishing and live events; Warner Chappell Music is the publishing arm of Warner Music Group, with an international network for managing song rights.
The partnership brings Kidding Aside’s publishing work into a new venture, with Nicolas Klersy joining to lead its publishing A&R, which involves finding and developing songwriting talent. Such agreements can connect independent artists and songwriters with a larger publisher’s global reach, though the specific financial and rights arrangements here have not been made public.
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