Distiller Music Group announces a new publishing deal with Downtown Music Services. Claire Bianchi joins Distiller as Head of A&R.
Downtown will provide publishing administration for Distiller Music Publishing’s increasing number of songwriters and producers, including Dimitri Tikovoi (Blondie, Charli XCX), Danny LaFrombe (John Legend), and Nile Rodgers (The Ramona Flowers). In addition, Claire Bianchi joins Distiller Publishing as Head of A&R, following her position as A&R Manager at Stellar Songs.
At Stellar, Bianchi worked with various artists and songwriters, including TYLR Rydr, Sad Night Dynamite, and The Libertines. She was a crucial player in the rise of European hit “Hypnotized” by Purple Disco Machine and Sophie and the Giants, which achieved platinum status while receiving over half a billion streams.
“Hypnotized” saw a follow-up with “In the Dark,” which is currently a number one hit in the Europe APC charts for the last seven weeks, including 34 million streams on Spotify. The two artists co-wrote the song with Distiller Music Publishing’s Dimitri Tikovoi at Distiller’s 2021 writing camp.
“I’m delighted to be working with Distiller Publishing alongside the Downtown team and look forward to helping to continue to grow a fantastic independent publisher,” said Claire Bianchi. “Having a major hit with ‘In the Dark’ right at the start of our relationship is a great way to start things off!”
Founder of Distiller Music Group, Sam Dyson, said, “This new agreement with Downtown Music Services is a key move for Distiller Music Publishing, as it allows us to join forces with their incredible team who are immensely experienced and motivated towards getting the most from our roster. Their advice, support, and introduction to a global network will be invaluable as we explore new opportunities for the songwriters and producers we represent.”
He added, “We are also excited to welcome Claire Bianchi who is a brilliant, creative A&R executive bringing expertise and experience to our team.”
Mike Smith, Global President of Downtown Music Services, concluded, “I am thrilled to be getting into business with Distiller as they celebrate a massive hit across Europe with ‘In the Dark.’ Claire is one of the best music creatives out there and alongside Sam with his rich understanding of the music space, they are building an amazing business and we hope to maximize their presence around the world.”