Sir Ringo Starr signs publishing deal with BMG

Sir Ringo Starr has signed a worldwide deal with music publisher BMG, the company has announced.

The agreement includes more than 150 titles spanning nearly 50 years, including his songwriting contributions with the Beatles such as Octopus’s Garden and Don’t Pass Me By and his future compositions.

It also includes his 19 studio albums, including his debut solo single It Don’t Come Easy and his first solo album Sentimental Journey from 1970, and his most recent album from 2017, Give More Love.

Sir Ringo, 77, whose real name is Richard Starkey, said: “I love making music and the songwriting process – and putting new music out there to play along side the old.

“How great to be working with BMG who are excited to have my entire catalogue.”

Zach Katz, of BMG US, added: “It is an understatement to say our entire team is overwhelmingly excited to welcome Ringo to the BMG family.

“From New York, Nashville, and Los Angeles to our offices around the world, we are all in, globally committed, and eager to show him what a multimedia music company can do, across the board, when you have the right creative tools to put your music to work.”

In 1971, the former Beatles drummer started his run as the first solo Beatle to score seven consecutive top 10 singles, starting with It Don’t Come Easy.

His second hit single, Back Off Boogaloo, followed in 1972, and was written with and inspired by T. Rex frontman Marc Bolan and was followed by US chart-toppers Photograph and You’re Sixteen (You’re Beautiful And You’re Mine).

In 1989 Ringo, who was eventually knighted in March this year, assembled his first All Starr Band and he found consistent success as a live act with his revolving All Starrs.

In 2018 he will be back on the road with a new iteration of the All Starr Band.