MPL Communications (which stands forMcCartney Productions Ltd.) (NAICS 512230, SIC 2741) is the umbrella company for the business interests ofPaul McCartney and was established in 1969. In addition to handling McCartney's post-Beatles work, MPL is one of the world's largest privately ownedmusic publishers through its acquisition of other publishing companies.[2]
The company was founded in February 1969 asAdagrove Limited but changed its name to McCartney Productions Ltd. in August 1969.[3] One of the company's first projects was the purchase of the rights to a film adaptation ofRupert Bear in early 1970.[4]
Lennon–McCartney songs such as "Love Me Do" and "P.S. I Love You" became part of the catalog in the late 2010s after McCartney reached a settlement with longtime Beatles catalog holderSony/ATV Music Publishing allowing the co-author to reclaim his songs fifty-six years from their initial publication.[5] MPL also controls 25 subsidiary companies.[6]
In 1976 MPL bought the North American rights to the Edwin H. Morris & Co. catalogue from Morris himself,[7] and most of Buddy Holly's compositions,[8][9] and in 2003 the rights to Carl Perkins' works.[10] The Holly acquisition was followed by McCartney's launch of 'Buddy Holly Day' with a concert presented annually from 1976 to 1999.Additionally, MPL has acquired rights to other cover songs recorded by the Beatles, and solo recordings byJohn Lennon, McCartney,Ringo Starr, andDenny Laine as follows:
In October 2006, theTrademark Registry in London reported that MPL Communications had started a process to trademark McCartney's name on saleable goods.[14]
^Sanjek, t. l. R. (1988). American Popular Music and Its Business: The First Four Hundred Years, Volume III: From 1900-1984. United States: Oxford University Press. p.539
