Photo Credit: Darren Michaelson/BPI
AP Music Royalties acquires Scottish songwriter Bill Padley’s publishing catalog featuring hits by Atomic Kitten, Ronan Keating, Shayne Ward and more.
AP Music Royalties Fund (APMRF) has acquired the catalog of publishing rights from Scottish songwriter and producer Bill Padley. Padley is best known for co-writing hits like X Factor winner Shayne Ward’s “That’s My Goal” and Atomic Kitten’s “Whole Again.”
Other notable songs by Bill Padley include boy band Blue’s “Best In Me”, Atomic Kitten’s “The Tide Is High” and Ronan Keating’s “Joy and Pain”. Padley also has producer credits for the above artists, as well as the Fugees, Sheryl Crow and others.
“I am pleased to place the songwriting work of my life in the capable and trusted hands of the Alternative Partners team and I look forward to working with them in the future,” said Bill Padley.
“Over the course of almost 40 years, Bill has written over 200 songs which have been performed and recorded by a variety of top-flight artists, making a significant contribution to the UK and international music landscape,” adds Darren Michaelson, Music Manager of APMRF.
“Having acquired the producer rights to several iconic Spice Girls hits in September last year, we are particularly pleased to add interest in Atomic Kitten’s evergreen hits ‘Whole Again’ and ‘The Tide Is High’ to our portfolio to have. We thank Bill for his trust and support.”
This acquisition follows that of APMRF acquisition of the publishing rights catalog of Chris Demetriou – a British songwriter active since 1966. Demetrious’s work includes John Kongos’ “He’s Gonna Step On You Again”, which hit #4 in the UK Singles Chart in 1971.
Notoriously, the song was re-recorded as “Step On” by The Happy Mondays in 1990, which was an instant commercial hit in both the UK and US. “Step On” was included in Q Magazine’s 1999 list of the 100 Greatest Singles of All Time.
“The Happy Mondays pioneered the Manchester sound, bridging the gap between 1980s Manchester independent rock and the burgeoning British rave scene,” notes Michaelson. “In ‘Step On’, originally written by Chris Demetriou, we’re delighted to have such a gem in our portfolio.”