[Updated] UMPG Acquires Criterion Catalog

On the same day that UMPG announced its acquisition of Criterion Music Corporation, The Voice contestant Danielle Bradberry propelled one of Criterion’s catalog hits to No. 1 on the iTunes country chart by performing a show-stealing cover of “Maybe It Was Memphis” (see video below). The song, made famous by Pam Tillis in 1992, experienced an overnight resurgence with Bradberry’s version becoming the No. 1 Country track on iTunes, and Top 5 on iTunes overall.

As previously reported:

Universal Music Publishing Group (UMPG) has acquired Criterion Music Corporation and affiliated entities, it was announced today (May 7) by Zach Horowitz, Chairman & CEO, UMPG, and Bo Goldsen, President of Criterion.

Goldsen, who was responsible for signing Rosanne Cash (“Seven Year Ache”), Lyle Lovett (“If I Had a Boat”) and Rodney Crowell (“Shame on the Moon”), will continue as President of the company his father Mickey Goldsen founded in the 1950s.

Country titles include Highway 101’s “Somewhere Tonight,” Garth Brooks’ “Standing Outside the Fire,”  Pam Tillis’ “Maybe It Was Memphis,” John Michael Montgomery’s “I Can Love You Like That” and Eddie Raven’s “I Got Mexico.” Additionally, the catalog includes cuts from Lee Hazlewood (“These Boots Are Made for Walkin’,”) Jackson Browne (“Doctor My Eyes”) and jazz musician Charlie “Bird” Parker (“Ornithology”).

“Over seven decades, the Goldsen family has built one of the finest collections of songs in contemporary music publishing,” said Zach Horowitz. “We are privileged that they have entrusted their legacy to UMPG.”

Criterion will relocate to UMPG’s Santa Monica, Calif. headquarters under the new acquisition. Loeb & Loeb represented Criterion Music in the transaction. Munger Tolles & Olson represented UMPG.

Criterion began after music publishing veteran Mickey Goldsen purchased Capitol Songs, the publishing endeavor he helped create for the newly founded Capitol Records in 1943.