peermusic was founded over 95 years ago by renowned visionary Ralph S. Peer, and is the largest independent music publisher in the world, with 39 offices in 33 countries and owning or administering over 1 million copyrights.
In January 1928, Peer established the firm as Southern Music Publishing Company, Inc., with headquarters in New York City. Eight years earlier as a young A&R man working for Okeh records, Peer had guided the recording of Mamie Smith's "Crazy Blues" the first blues recording by an African-American singer. In 1924 in Atlanta he recorded the first commercially successful country record, Fiddlin' John Carson's "The Little Old Log Cabin in the Lane".
In 1927, now working for the Victor Talking Machine label, Peer pioneered recording on the newly developed electronic field recording equipment with a ground-breaking session in Memphis featuring Will Shade and the Memphis Jug Band. In August of that same year he recorded the famed "Bristol Sessions", today often called the ‘Big Bang of Country Music"; encompassing recordings by The Carter Family, Jimmie Rodgers, the Stonemans and sixteen other acts. With the establishment of his publishing company Southern Music, now known as peermusic, Peer acquired such standards-to-be as "You Are My Sunshine," "Walk Right In" and "Georgia On My Mind".
Over the course of the next decade, Peer recognized the potential for growth in the Latin market after a trip to Mexico City in 1928. There he met composer Agustin Lara and began publishing his seminal works such as "Granada" and "Maria Bonita". He further brought this rich musical culture to the world by signing such Latin luminaries as Perez Prado ("Mambo #5") and Consuelo Velazquez ("Besame Mucho"). Peer saw potential for international marketing and development of the then isolated Latin songs and, in his own words, he "conceived the idea of an organized chain of music publishing houses to cover the principal countries of the world." With his wife and partner Monique Iversen Peer, the firm successfully placed now globally-famed Latin hits such as Ary Barroso's "Brazil," Lara's "Solamente Una Vez," and Gabriel Ruiz's "Amor" in films produced by Walt Disney and MGM.
The company opened offices across Europe during the 1930s and 40s, acquiring and developing local repertoire throughout the continent that have since become classics by artists such as Edith Piaf ("No Je Ne Regrette Rien"),Yves Montand. ("Mon Manège à Moi"). The Swiss song "Les Trois Cloches" ("The Three Bells") became a global sensation covered in English, Dutch, Italian, Swedish, Hebrew and other languages.
peermusic launched its classical music division in August 1948. It would publish respected composers from Latin America such as Heitor Villa-Lobos, and Manuel Ponce; Turkey (A. Adnan Saygun); Spain (Xavier Montsalvatge,); and Poland (Mieczyslaw Weinberg); while fostering global interest in the music of great American composers including Charles Ives and Lou Harrison. Today the classical division continues to proudly represent contemporary composers such as Morten Lauridsen, Tania Léon, and Arturo Màrquez.
Through the 1950s, peermusic's success in the global pop music marketplace burgeoned with the signing of Buddy Holly ("Everyday") and Hoagy Carmichael ("Stardust"). Peer also continued to promote up and coming acts such as the Platters ("The Great Pretender") and Charlie Parker ("Tico-Tico"). Peer also sustained its position in country music with hits by Lefty Frizzell and Tennessee Ernie Ford.
In 2017 Ralph S. Peer was honored with the prestigious Grammy (NARAS) Trustees Award.
With the passing of founder Ralph S. Peer in early 1960, his wife Monique took on the role of peermusic's CEO and continued to deftly guide the company for the next 20 years. Leading the firm through the album era, peermusic topped the charts with the Rolling Stones ("Not Fade Away") and singer-songwriter Donovan ("Sunshine Superman"). UK songwriting team John Carter and Ken Lewis penned the No. 1 hit for The Music Explosion ("Little Bit O' Soul") and Geoff Stephens brought us the hit "Winchester Cathedral."
Through the 1970s, peermusic copyrights became staples of many important rock releases, from "Statesboro Blues" (The Allman Brothers) and "Dancin in the Ruins" (Blue Oyster Cult). The firm took an early adventurous lead in paving the way to the modern rock/punk years, publishing such ground-breaking hits of the era such as "Cherry Bomb" (The Runaways) and "King of The Night Time World" (KISS). 1980s pop hits such as "Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Old Oak Tree" (Tony Orlando and Dawn) and "Walk Like An Egyptian" (The Bangles) added to that legacy.
Since 1980, peermusic has expanded its operations into ten new territories, including four offices in Asia-Pacific. In 1990, from the dawn of the internet, peermusic viewed it as the "tool of the future" in music marketing and established the company's web site, peermusic.com, as early as 1995. peermusic became an angel investor in the pioneering on-line sales site e-music. In 1998, peermusic became the first international music company equipped with a different kind of web site, digitalpressure.com, which offered direct downloads of master recordings for sale.
In 1993, peermusic signed renowned writer and producer David Foster, who co-wrote hits such as "You're the Inspiration" (Chicago), "St. Elmo's Fire (Man in Motion)" (John Parr) and "I Have Nothing" (Whitney Houston). The 1990s found the firm at the top of the charts with "It's Oh So Quiet" (Bjork), "Mambo No. 5 (A Little Bit Of…)" (Lou Bega), and "Long Neck Bottle" (Garth Brooks); and into the 2000's with "Come On Over Baby" (Christina Aguilera), "Me Against The Music" (Britney Spears & Madonna), and "Mayberry" (Rascal Flatts). At the turn of the century, "You Raise Me Up" (Josh Groban / Westlife) penned by Brendan Graham was a hit on both sides of the Atlantic. This song has become a modern standard, having been recorded hundreds of times in over 30 languages.
In recent decades peermusic has continued its dominance in Latin music by publishing the catalogs of renowned artists such Juanes ("A Dios Le Pido"), Molotov ("Gimme the Power"), Sin Bandera ("Entra En Mi Vida"), Chayanne ("Me Enamore De Ti"), and Gloria Trevi ("El Favor De La Soledad").
peermusic continued its longstanding involvement in blues and R&B with the acquisition of a portion of the soul blues stalwart publisher Malaco Music in 2007. With that came such titles as "Old Time Rock and Roll" (Bob Seger), "Groove Me" (King Floyd), and "Ring My Bell" (Anita Ward).
At the dawn of the 2010's, peermusic celebrated another string of huge hits that included "Firework" (Katy Perry), "Umbrella" (Rihanna), "Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It") (Beyoncé)' "Banjo" (Rascal Flatts), "Jealous" (Nick Jonas) "Night Train" (Jason Aldean), "Darte Un Beso" (Prince Royce) and "In My Feelings" (Drake). These titles continue the legacy that peermusic has been building since 1928.
In recent years peermusic has expanded its multi-million dollar proprietary copyright and royalty system, IRIS, into new markets as well as completing numerous repertoire acquisitions, most recently in South Korea.
peermusic today remains an active participant in the contemporary music scene using its extensive international reach, deep expertise and shining reputation for the benefit of the many thousands of composers it has the honor to represent. As our moniker proclaims, we are the Global Independent.
peermusic websites use cookies. By using our services, you're agreeing to our Privacy and Cookie Policies.