Concord Music has acquired theatre publisher Samuel French to form Concord Theatricals.
The new business covers professional and amateur theatrical licensing for the catalogues of Samuel French, Rodgers & Hammerstein Theatricals and Tams-Witmark, plus Concord Music’s joint venture with Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Really Useful Group: The Musical Company.
“Samuel French adds to Concord Theatricals a broad diversity of rights, relationships, experience and executive talent, along with a great family legacy that will continue to flourish with Nate and Abbie’s participation,” explained Jake Wisely, Concord's chief publishing executive.
“French also broadens our existing relationships and business synergies, as we now represent all of the musicals of Marvin Hamlisch, both the stage rights and film and TV music rights of Agatha Christie Ltd, as well as various recordings and now the plays of Steve Martin. With Samuel French, Concord is no longer just music.”
Concord Theatricals will be led by Sean Patrick Flahaven, who has spent the last two years as the CEO of The Musical Company.
“It’s a genuine privilege to represent these iconic shows and catalogues," he said. "We are uniquely positioned to promote our writers’ work and competitively expand our roster going forward. Our focus is on serving our clients’ art, protecting their rights and helping our customers bring great theatre at every level of production to audiences all over the world.”
The merger marks a new chapter in the near 200 year history of Samuel French as its president, Nathan Collins, acknowledges.
“For 188 years, Samuel French has been the iconic name in theatrical licensing and publishing and this merger will enable us to continue to provide our clients with the most innovative products, dynamic marketing and transparent reporting," he said.
"Under Sean’s leadership, we will build upon the great catalogs of the two organizations and create the preferred home for the works of playwrights, composers and lyricists.”
