Tree International Publishing

Tree International Publishing was a major music publisher, based in Nashville. As the last major music publisher that was owned and operated in Nashville, it was sold to the CBS Records Group in 1989.[1] The catalog is now part of Sony Music Publishing.

History

Tree International Publishing was founded by Jack Stapp in the 1950s. In 1953, Stapp hired Buddy Killen, then twenty years old, to audition songs and sing demos. In 1956, Killen discovered "Heartbreak Hotel", which he persuaded Elvis Presley to record.[2]

After Stapp died in 1980, Killen became the president and sole owner of the company.[2] In 1989, Killen sold the company to CBS Records, owned by Sony for a price estimated to be between $30 million[1] and $40 million.[2] At the time, Tree International Publishing had a catalogue of approximately 35,000 songs and had been the leading publisher on the Billboard charts since 1973.[1]

References
  1. John Pareles, Records to Buy Tree, Ending an Era in Nashville. New York Times, January 4, 1989. Retrieved 2016-05-29.
  2. Wm. K. Knoedelseder Jr., CBS Records Goes Country : The sale of Nashville publisher Tree International for $40 million means the Japanese now own 'Heartbreak Hotel.' Los Angeles Times, January 4, 1989. Retrieved 2016-05-29.
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