Earlier this year, Megadeth released their 14th studio album, Super Collider, their first for their own Tradecraft label (through Universal Music Enterprises). While it was their worst-reviewed album since Risk. That doesn’t seem to have really had that negative of an impact on their career. The album debuted at #6 on the charts, one of the more successful debuts the band’s had in recent years. They went on to headline another successful Gigantour, and Warner/Chappell Music, the music publishing arm of Warner Music, announced today that they’ve signed a worldwide publishing deal with Dave Mustaine – for material including Super Collider. The following is from a press release on Megadeth’s Facebook page:
Mustaine said, “The last two years have been the most rewarding of my career with a new record contract with Universal Music Enterprises (UMe), my own label Tradecraft, and now, this new exciting partnership with Warner/Chappell. I am very excited about reuniting with a hero of mine, former President at EMI publishing Jon Platt, and industry legend Greg Sowders. I have never been happier.”
“As a singer, songwriter and guitarist, Dave Mustaine has virtually defined heavy metal music for the past three decades,” said Jon Platt President, Creative – North America, Warner/Chappell Music. “Since founding Megadeth, Dave has built a body of work that serves as the benchmark for an entire genre. Today, Megadeth remains a vital force, and Dave continues to rank among rock’s most creative and influential musicians and composers. We are thrilled to welcome him to Warner/Chappell.”
The deal includes Super Collider as well as future material, which could mean several things. First of all, get ready to hear “Super Collider” more. Maybe for an auto body shop ad? Secondly, this could dictate the future direction of Megadeth music. While some fans might not have liked the more commercial direction of the album, the very reason someone signs a publishing deal is to exploit their music. The press release specifically says that it’s for their current album and future material, so it’s not like it covers more recognizable past hits of theirs like “Peace Sells But Who’s Buying” and “Symphony of Destruction,” just the new album and what Dave writes in the future. In short, get ready for more radio friendly (or ad-friendly) music from Megadeth.
