KNR signs incredible suite of international acts

- Includes Macklemore & Ryan Lewis- Also includes UK’s Ben Howard and Passenger- US signings include Josh Homme (Queens Of The Stone Age) and Beck- Australian signings include Flume and Kevin Parker (Tame Impala)- New Zealand's Neil Finn joins roster- List totals two ARIA Award 2013 winners, five 2014 Grammy nominees and five BRIT award nominees16th January, London:- Kobalt Neighbouring Rights (KNR) has landed a significant list of acts from around the world with its latest batch of signings. For each KNR will act as agent for the collection of their neighbouring rights income. The expanded roster includes five Grammy nominees and five BRIT award nominees, as well as past winners. Heading up the new additions is breakout pairing Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, alongside artists from the UK, US, Australia, New Zealand and Europe.In a first for KNR, US rapper Macklemore and producer Ryan Lewis have been signed up alongside their label, Macklemore LLC. As well as picking up seven Grammy nominations, the pair notably became the first duo in the history of the Billboard 100 chart to reach number one with their first two charted singles, “Thrift Shop” and “Can’t Hold Us”, last year.British singer-songwriter Passenger scored one of the UK’s biggest selling singles of 2013 with platinum hit “Let Her Go”, and is a 2014 BRIT nominee in the British Single category. BRIT award winner and 2012 Mercury Prize nominee Ben Howard is another key signing, alongside Grammy-winning producer and songwriter Paul Epworth, who has contributed to many huge hits through his work with artists such as Adele, Florence and the Machine, and Paul McCartney.Other UK additions to the KNR roster are twice double-platinum singer-songwriter Paloma Faith, and multi-award winning chart topper Taio Cruz.Upcoming talent is also an underlying feature as KNR takes on British singer-songwriters Charli XCX, BBC Sound of 2014 runner-up and BRIT nominee Ella Eyre, and 2012 Mercury Prize nominee Jessie Ware. Joining them is John Newman, who last year entered the UK charts at number one with his debut album ‘Tribute’, and is currently in the running for two BRIT awards.Also on the list is Josh Homme of US rockers Queens Of The Stone Age. The band’s 2013 album ‘…Like Clockwork’ debuted at number one in the US and has been nominated for two awards at the upcoming 2014 Grammys. Additionally KNR has scooped up multi-platinum singer-songwriter Beck, and harmonious US indie rockers Family Of The Year.Furthermore, KNR has signed up New Zealander Neil Finn, who as well as front man for Crowded House, is known for his solo work including contributing a song to Peter Jackson's 2012 blockbuster film The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey. This is alongside Australian producer and DJ Flume, who took home four awards from the 2013 ARIA Music Awards, and countryman and fellow ARIA winner, Kevin Parker of psychedelic rock project Tame Impala, who is also Grammy nominated for 2014.Rounding out the impressive batch of signings are Russian-German producer Zedd, and Swedish duo Icona Pop. Zedd has seen strong success off the back of his debut studio album ‘Clarity’, with the title track nominated for Best Dance Recording at the 2014 Grammys , whilst Icona Pop are known internationally as a result of the hit singles “Manners” and “I Love It”, the latter of which was certified double-platinum in the US.Ann Tausis, Managing Director of Kobalt Neighbouring Rights said: “In a relatively short time KNR has built up a client list that blends established acts and emerging talent, from all different territories, and these new signings continue that trend. It’s an honour to be working with so many world class artists, and good luck to all our potential award winners!”The full run of new signings are:• Beck• Ben Howard• Charli XCX• Ella Eyre• Family Of The Year• Flume• Icona Pop• Jessie Ware• John Newman• Josh Homme (Queens Of The Stone Age)• Kevin Parker (Tame Impala)• Macklemore & Ryan Lewis• Neil Finn• Paloma Faith• Passenger• Paul Epworth• Taio Cruz• ZeddIn total two KNR clients were nominated and two won ARIA Awards in 2013, eight are nominated for awards at the 2014 BRITs, and 13 are in the running at the 2014 Grammys, some in multiple categories. The new signings bring KNR’s total client roster to over 100.About Kobalt Neighbouring RightsKobalt Neighbouring Rights (KNR) offers a global service for artists and independent labels to collect their Neighbouring Rights income from the various relevant collecting societies around the world.Launched at MIDEM 2012, KNR is run by Managing Director Ann Tausis, who was previously at Universal Publishing for 20 years, most recently as Director, European Regional Administration.KNR prides itself on its bespoke, robust service to clients, drawing on secondary data to test reporting by collecting societies and negotiating the complex distribution policies and qualifying criteria in order to maximise revenues to artists. By making use of the infrastructure and back office of the critically-acclaimed Kobalt Music Group, KNR is able to build a more accurate picture of revenues owed.The company represents, among others, Bob Dylan, Björk, Ellie Goulding, Jake Bugg and Gotye.KNR was launched by executive chairman Hans Van Berkel, and benefits from his inside knowledge and international relationships built up over 20 years of record label experience at Polygram and 18 years in the Neighbouring Rights field as Managing Director of Dutch Neighbouring Rights organisation SENA.Based in London, Kobalt Neighbouring Rights is a separate limited company operating as part of the Kobalt Music Group, and embraces the wider group’s ethos of transparency and timeliness of payments to clients who are guaranteed payment within 31 days after the end of the month in which money is received.