Chuck D, one half of Public Enemy, has sold a major stake in his songwriting catalog to Reach Music.
According to Rolling Stone, Reach Music, the longtime publisher of Chuck D for over 20 years, acquired the writer’s share in the artist’s catalog but not the publisher’s share, which makes up the other half of songwriting royalties. The deal includes more than 300 songs and also features Public Enemy’s most celebrated releases from 1987 to 2012 — during which they dropped albums and tracks like It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back and “Fight the Power — but does not have all of Chuck D’s catalog.
“[D]oing this deal was the right timing for a forward and logical evolution of our business together in an ever changing industry,” Chuck D shared in a statement. “Reach has always been ahead of the curve on establishing respect for the HipHop genre songwriting and publishing-wise, and they will continue taking care of my works.”
Reach Music president, founder and owner, Michael Closter, added, “I’m so grateful to Chuck for our business together as his music publisher throughout these many decades. There’s no one more consequential in the world of Hip-Hop than Chuck D, and he has written iconic and impactful songs that will forever be a part of music history. The team at Reach will continue working hard to protect these works while also introducing them to new generations to come.”
