(CelebrityAccess) — Famed singer-songwriter Janis Ian has signed an exclusive agreement with Sony Music Publishing that will see the company manage her catalog worldwide, with the exception of Japan.
The deal expands on Ian’s previous partnership with the company and marks the first time her entire extensive catalog has been united since 1977.
“I’ve worked with Sony Music Publishing for years, and Esther Friedman and her team have shown their love of music beyond just the business side. Although my catalog’s been with various publishers through the years, I’m tremendously excited about having it all in one place, with people I trust,” says Ian.
“Janis Ian is a one-of-a-kind talent, and her songs are an inspiration to so many. We are delighted to continue our partnership with Janis and we look forward to expanding her musical legacy for generations to come,” says Sony Music Publishing SVP, Creative Marketing, Film & TV Esther Friedman.
Ian, who started writing music when she was still a teenager, wrote her first major hit at the age of 14 with “Society’s Child” a song that explored interracial relationships in the 1960s. The song reached No. 14 on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart and No. 13 on Cash Box Pop Singles and Canada’s RPM charts, but faced pushback from many radio stations over the then-controversial subject that it addressed. Ian’s other hits include “At Seventeen” which won her the Grammy for “Best Pop Vocal Performance, Female” in 1977.
She received the International Folk Music Awards Lifetime Achievement Award in 2023 and was honored by Ireland’s Tradfest and Ireland’s Minister of Culture in 2024 for Outstanding Achievements In the Arts.
Ian, who was raised by activist Jewish parents on a New Jersey farm, now lives in Florida with her partner and wife of 34 years.
