Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame Inductee Loreena McKennitt Signs Global Publishing Agreement with peermusic

peermusic has signed artist and songwriter Loreena McKennitt to an exclusive global publishing administration agreement, as announced today by Kathy Spanberger, President & Chief Operating Officer, peermusic Anglo American Region, Neville Quinlan, Managing Director, peermusic Canada, and Cheryl Link, Senior Creative Director, peermusic Canada. The deal is a joint signing between peermusic’s Canadian and American offices and encompasses McKennitt’s entire back and future catalog worldwide, marking the first time McKennitt has agreed to a publishing partner on a global basis encompassing her entire catalog.

Loreena McKennitt is a Canadian singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and composer who writes, records, and performs world music with Celtic and Middle Eastern influences. In a recording career spanning nearly four decades, McKennitt’s ‘eclectic Celtic’ music has received critical acclaim world-wide, and gold, platinum and multi-platinum sales awards in 15 countries across four continents. To date, she has sold over 14 million albums with a catalogue that includes eight studio recordings, four seasonal recordings, a live in-concert DVD and two DVD documentaries. She’s won two Junos, Canada’s premiere music award, garnered two GRAMMY® nominations and has performed for the late Queen Elizabeth II.

In recognition of her esteemed song catalog and distinctive career, Loreena was the first 2023 inductee into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame. The presentation took place at the Opera House in Toronto on March 8th  – International Women’s Day. In addition to the induction, a permanent exhibit is being dedicated to Loreena at the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame at the National Music Centre in Calgary. 

“Loreena is one of Canada’s most beloved and talented artists. In a career spanning three decades, Loreena has unequivocally continued to create genre-defining moments,” said Neville Quinlan. “In addition to her work in music, Loreena is an incredible person who has worked with a number of local and national charities. She’s exactly the type of talented and industrious individual that we want to be in business with. We are delighted to partner with Loreena as a force for publishing administration.”

“The team at peermusic is setting the standard for global administration,” said Loreena McKennitt. “They could teach the preeminent master class on attentive guardianship of song catalogues on a global scale and have an expansive infrastructure spanning 38 global offices in 31 countries. I am proud to have my songs entrusted to the careful watch of the team at peermusic.”

Canadian sales awards for McKennitt include one five-times platinum certification for The Visit; two four-times platinum certifications for The Mask and Mirror and The Book of Secrets; one platinum certificate An Ancient Muse, four gold certifications for sales of Elemental, To Drive the Cold Winter Away, Parallel Dreams, and A Winter Garden: Five Songs for the Season); and triple platinum for sales of her concert DVD Nights from the Alhambra.

U.S. sales awards include one double-platinum certification for The Book of Secrets, whose success was led by the radio-driven Top 20 Billboard single “The Mummers’ Dance”, which became a worldwide hit. U.S. sales awards also include two gold certifications for The Mask and Mirror and The Visit.

Less well known is the fact that McKennitt is a highly successful businesswoman who has created an independent record label with celebrated international success. In 1985 she established her own record label, Quinlan Road, a move which has made her a rarity in the music industry. In the early years, Ms. McKennitt ran the operation from her kitchen table, selling her recordings by mail order and producing her own concert tours. Today, she leads her own company with responsibilities that include everything from creating strategic business plans to overseeing marketing and promotion.

McKennitt is a member of the Order of Canada and the Order of Manitoba. In 2002 and 2012 she was the recipient of Queen Elizabeth II’s Golden and Diamond Jubilee medals and in 2013 she was appointed to the rank of Knight of the National Order of Arts and Letters by the Republic of France.

From 2006 to 2013 McKennitt held the position of Honorary Colonel of the 435 Transport and Rescue Squadron in the Royal Canadian Air Force and upon completion of the appointment was awarded the RCAF Commander’s Commendation in recognition of outstanding professionalism and dedication. In September 2014, McKennitt was appointed as the Honorary Colonel of the Royal Canadian Air Force, and in 2019 she was the recipient of the Canadian Forces' Decoration (CD) for twelve years of service.

She also holds honourary degrees from the University of Manitoba (Winnipeg), Sir Wilfrid Laurier University (Waterloo), Queen’s University (Kingston) and George Brown College (Toronto).

ABOUT PEERMUSIC: Founded by Ralph S. Peer in 1928, peermusic is the world’s largest global independent publishing company and operates 38 offices in 31 countries. With well over a quarter of a million titles in the company’s catalogue, and songs that vary from country, blues, jazz and pop to Latin, concert and rock‘n’roll, peermusic is the largest privately owned company of its kind in the world. For further information about peermusic, go to www.peermusic.com. For breaking news updates, behind-the-scenes information and photos, follow @peermusic on Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat.

PEERMUSIC MEDIA CONTACT:
Heather Glenn
Black Market Creative
hglenn@blackmarketcreative.com
310.765.1927 x707 ph