Harrisongs
George Harrison created Mornyork Ltd on the 11th of September 1964 while he was still a member of the Beatles. This new entity changed its name to Harrisongs Ltd by the 7th of December that same year. The company established its headquarters at 27 Ovington Square in London's Knightsbridge district. That address shares a building with the Beatles' Apple Corps organization today.
Harrison and Ringo Starr signed contracts with Northern Songs, a company set up in 1963 by Dick James and Brian Epstein. They were not satisfied with their writer's royalties or the lowly status implicit in this business arrangement. In 1967, Harrison wrote Only a Northern Song about his dissatisfaction with the company. He let his Northern Songs contract expire in March 1968 and adopted Harrisongs for his music publishing instead. Starr founded Startling Music during that same period.
Harrison's 1968 solo album Wonderwall Music was the last release where his new compositions appeared under Northern Songs. That year, Harrisongs published Sour Milk Sea alongside four contributions to the Beatles eponymous double album. While My Guitar Gently Weeps stands as one of those key tracks released through the new company. Two songs from the band's 1969 album Abbey Road became widely syndicated compositions from that record. Here Comes The Sun and Something attracted numerous cover versions over time.
Something provided Harrisongs with what author Mark Lewisohn terms a rich flow of royalties down the years. Over 150 cover recordings exist for that song alone alongside the enduring popularity of the Beatles version. Harrison increased his ownership of the company from 80 per cent to 100 per cent in 1970. Disagreements between Lennon and McCartney resulted in them losing control and much of the revenue generated from their songs. This move proved especially beneficial compared to the earlier arrangement.
In 1973, Harrison assigned publishing rights for Living in the Material World to the Material World Charitable Foundation. He set up this Harrisongs-administered charitable organisation to aid starving countries. His songs from Dark Horse onwards were originally published by Ganga Publishing B.V. in the United States. Oops Publishing handled distribution in the United Kingdom and other parts of the world. Umlaut Corporation now controls these rights under the direction of Olivia Harrison.
As of 2016, the Harrisongs catalogue is administered worldwide by the Bicycle Music Company. That entity operates as a division of Concord Music. BMG Rights Management administers the portion belonging to thenewno2, an indie rock band led by Dhani Harrison. The company continues to manage Harrison's son's musical output alongside the original catalog.
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Common questions
When was Harrisongs Ltd established by George Harrison?
George Harrison created the entity known as Mornyork Ltd on the 11th of September 1964. This company changed its name to Harrisongs Ltd by the 7th of December that same year.
Where is the headquarters of Harrisongs located in London?
The company established its headquarters at 27 Ovington Square in London's Knightsbridge district. That address shares a building with the Beatles' Apple Corps organization today.
Why did George Harrison leave Northern Songs for his own publishing company?
Harrison and Ringo Starr were not satisfied with their writer's royalties or the lowly status implicit in the business arrangement with Northern Songs. Harrison let his contract expire in March 1968 and adopted Harrisongs for his music publishing instead.
Which songs from the Abbey Road album became widely syndicated compositions published by Harrisongs?
Two songs from the band's 1969 album Abbey Road became widely syndicated compositions from that record. Here Comes The Sun and Something attracted numerous cover versions over time.
How much ownership did George Harrison hold in Harrisongs after 1970?
Harrison increased his ownership of the company from 80 per cent to 100 per cent in 1970. This move proved especially beneficial compared to the earlier arrangement where Lennon and McCartney lost control and much of the revenue generated from their songs.