MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – August 4, 2022 – Concord is pleased to announce the acquisition of independent Australian music publisher Native Tongue and the launch of its first offices in the Australasian region, Concord Music Publishing Australia & New Zealand (ANZ). Concord’s investment in Native Tongue and its staff marks yet another strategic move for the Company, further expanding its global reach and the resources that it can provide for its artists, songwriters, composers and playwrights.

Native Tongue was founded in 2003 by Chris Gough to provide songwriters and composers with a publisher dedicated to their development and the achievement of their goals throughout their careers. Since Chris’ semi-retirement in 2014, the company has been led by siblings Jaime and Chelsea Gough.

Concord Music Publishing ANZ will be based in Melbourne, with staff in Sydney and Auckland, and will be led by Jaime Gough, Managing Director, and Chelsea Gough, SVP, along with their executive team including David Nash, VP Publishing and Matt Tanner, VP A&R.

The Native Tongue roster includes writers such as Courtney Barnett, Stuart Crichton (Backstreet Boys, Kesha, Kygo), Sophie Curtis (Cosmos Midnight, Jessica Mauboy, aespa), Sir Dave Dobbyn, Jon Hume (Dean Lewis, Sofi Tukker), M-Phazes (Ruel, Remi Wolf), Don McGlashan, Ciara Muscat (NiziU, TWICE), Steve Rusch (Clinton Kane), Tim Tan (Enhypen, Seventeen), Gin Wigmore and Marlon Williams. In addition to its successes in Australia and New Zealand, Native Tongue has had a number of recent triumphs in Asia with songwriters on five Korean #1 charting releases and on two consecutive #1 albums in Japan at the start of 2022.

Native Tongue is also the sub-publisher for many international catalogues and has represented Concord (and previously Boosey & Hawkes and Imagem) in Australia & New Zealand for more than 12 years.

“Jaime and Chelsea along with our wonderful team of people have grown the company significantly in recent years,” said Native Tongue founder Chris Gough, “This is the next step, providing our home-grown writers with a truly international organisation capable of maximising their potential worldwide.”

John Minch, Concord’s President of International Publishing said, “Australia and New Zealand are important music markets in their own right and this is a region that we have wanted to invest in for many years. This will be an important strategic move for Concord in coordinating our Asia publishing initiatives, which Jaime will handle. Above all, this acquisition is about the Native Tongue team, who we know well and believe will really enjoy being part of Concord.”

“This is the start of a new chapter for us,” commented Jaime Gough, Managing Director of Concord Music Publishing ANZ. “Our team has worked hard to provide the best publishing service in the region, so to combine this with the support of an independent global music powerhouse will enable us to provide a superior international service for our local songwriters and artists. To be able to take this next step with friends that we have worked closely with for many years is exciting. We know Concord believes in the team we have here, and in the Australasian market. This will be fun!”

From being cradled as a baby in the arms of Roy Orbison, singing with Kitty Wells at the age of 10, and opening for Johnny Cash in her pajamas at 18, she had already led an extraordinary life before leaving North America in 2007 to start her own family on the other side of the world in New Zealand, where she has resided ever since. It was there Neilson forged her own artistic path as a critically acclaimed solo artist and songwriter, ultimately earning wide-ranging applause and myriad NZ-based awards for her booming vocal power and inventive, strikingly personal approach to country, rockabilly, and soul.

2022 now brings Tami’s 5th album, Kingmaker. Recorded at Neil Finn’s Roundhead Studios, Kingmaker was born of the pandemic. A moment when women were struggling. Disproportionately affected by furlough: a “she-cession,” analysts termed it. Women put their dreams and careers on hold to care for their families. The songs of Kingmaker question gender roles and expectations of women in society. She shines a light on the misogyny that pervades the music industry. She sings of the underestimation of women, of their strength, power, and resilience in the face of structural and cultural barriers to their full participation in society.

Tami’s story is at the center of this feminist tapestry: from singing with Kitty Wells at the age of 10, slipping demo tapes into the laundry bags of stars to now singing with Willie Nelson on Kingmaker — from humble beginnings to success, on her own terms. Tami Neilson is a game changer, a cage shaker, a Kingmaker.

Stream Kingmaker here.

Today sees Sydney duo Party Dozen, made up of Kirsty Tickle (saxophone) and Jonathan Boulet (percussion and sampler), release their third LP The Real Work.

Exactly what Party Dozen are is completely up to the listener. Doom. Jazz. Hardcore. Psychedelic. No-wave. Industrial.

The Real Work succeeds in exploring new directions but also features some familiar Party Dozen touches. Perhaps most notable is the first-ever appearance of a guest other than Kirsty or Jonathan on a Party Dozen track, with Nick Cave ad-libbing a very memorable contribution to the album’s second track, ‘Macca The Mutt’.

Stream The Real Work here.

Native Tongue welcomes multi-talented screen composer Lachlan Anderson to our roster of stunning Australasian composer talent.

Lachlan’s skill and wide-ranged experience working on ultra-thrilling international and local film, TV & documentary production is unique.

His ability to add depth, suspense, definition and an expansive contemporary creative vision to the most dramatic and meaty content has rewarded him with coveted accolades and associations with an array of top directors and production companies. These impactful commissions have taken Lachlan from a home base in NZ to Malta, Belgium, UK, beyond & have been awarded & nominated in Best Score categories the World over.

Lachlan Anderson has a string of notable credits and a global reputation for collaboration with creators of thought provoking, ground-breaking stories that deserve an imaginative unorthodox musical treatment.

Native Tongue has today announced the global signing of LA based band Girl Friday.

Following on from the signing of Vera Ellen late last year, songwriter Libby Hsieh joins the whānau, complementing the Girl Friday repertoire.

Described as dystopian shades of post-punk and noise rock alongside abundant optimism, Girl Friday’s guitar driven songs are indicative of the riot grrrl movement, and should be played loud.

Native Tongue’s New Zealand General Manager Pennie Black said of the signing, “I’m very pleased to have Vera Ellen and Libby Hsieh as Girl Friday join the team. They’re amazing songwriters and musicians who are inspiring to a new generation. Their releases so far have been exceptional, and I can’t wait to hear more.”

‘Decoration/Currency’ from the Fashion Conman EP (2019) is a highlight as is their debut full length album Androgynous Mary, and the band are currently working on new material.