Tom Petty Estate Signs Global Agreement with Warner Chappell Music

By Roxxy Turner

The estate of Tom Petty and Warner Chappell Music (WCM) have announced a new global administration deal for the late rock legend’s extensive music catalog. This agreement covers the vast majority of Petty’s songs, including iconic hits such as “Wildflowers,” “Free Fallin’,” “Learning to Fly,” “Refugee,” “Here Comes My Girl,” “I Won’t Back Down,” “The Waiting,” “Don’t Come Around Here No More,” “Mary Jane’s Last Dance,” and “Runnin’ Down A Dream,” among many others. The deal encompasses Petty’s work with the Heartbreakers as well as his solo projects.

The Petty Estate expressed their enthusiasm for the partnership with Warner Chappell, emphasizing the opportunities to expand Tom’s musical legacy and reach new audiences globally. “We’re excited for this new chapter of growth and the preservation of Tom’s legacy both at home and abroad. We look forward to working closely with Carianne, Greg, Guy, and their incredible team.”

Carianne Marshall, Co-Chair and COO of WCM, and Guy Moot, Co-Chair and CEO, remarked on the enduring significance of Petty’s music. “Tom Petty’s music is woven into the fabric of our lives, not just across America, but around the world. He captured the full range and resilience of the human spirit in songs about freedom and dreams, outcasts and rebels, relationships and heartbreak, the personal and the universal. Tom’s unmistakable sound and lyrics remain as timeless and vital today as ever, and all of us at Warner Chappell Music are honored to be joining with his estate to help amplify his extraordinary legacy on a global scale.”

Greg Sowders, WCM SVP, A&R and Catalog, added: “This landmark new deal spans 40 years of Tom’s hugely influential and much-loved songs. The depth and breadth of his catalog is exceptional, including 15 top ten albums and an incredible stream of rock classics. Tom was a born storyteller and he turned life experiences, both good and bad, into songs of extraordinary power and emotion that continue to captivate millions of fans. Tom Petty and his songs are one of the reasons I became a musician and publisher. The whole team is looking forward to partnering with his estate to ensure that his music not only endures but that its impact continues to grow for many years to come.”

Throughout his 40-year career, Tom Petty established himself as a cultural icon. Along with the 13 studio albums recorded with the Heartbreakers, he released three solo albums, including the acclaimed Full Moon Fever and Wildflowers. Petty was also a member of the supergroup Traveling Wilburys and the pre-Heartbreakers band Mudcrutch.

Recognized as one of the greatest rock artists of all time, Petty’s accolades include induction into the Songwriters Hall of Fame and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, multiple Grammy Awards, over 85 million records sold, performances for more than 140 million fans worldwide, and a memorable Super Bowl halftime show. Tom Petty passed away in 2017 shortly after completing his 40th anniversary tour, but his music continues to resonate with fans worldwide.

Most recently, some of Petty’s closest friends and collaborators curated “Petty Country: A Country Music Celebration of Tom Petty” via Big Machine Records in partnership with the Tom Petty Estate.