Randy Newman Sells Music Catalog, Including Disney Songs - WDW News Today

Randy Newman sold his share of his recorded music and publishing rights, including Disney songs and scores, to Litmus Music.

Randy Newman, who turns 81 next month, began writing songs as a teenager and released his self-titled album in 1968. He released several other solo albums over the years and began composing film scores in the 1980s.

His Disney credits include all four “Toy Story” films, “Monsters, Inc.” and “Monsters University,” “Cars” and “Cars 3,” “A Bug’s Life,” “The Princess and the Frog,” and “James and the Giant Peach.” These led to multiple nominations for the Academy Award for Best Original Song and Academy Award for Best Musical or Comedy Score. He won Best Original Song for “If I Didn’t Have You” from “Monsters, Inc.” and “We Belong Together” from “Toy Story 3,” which he performed.

Newman has also received three Primetime Emmy Awards and seven Grammy Awards. He was named a Disney Legend in 2007. He received a Hollywood Walk of Fame star in 2010. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2013.

Perhaps his most famous Disney composition is “You’ve Got a Friend in Me” from the first “Toy Story” flick, which he also performed. His other classic Disney tracks include “Our Town” from “Cars,” “When She Loved Me” from “Toy Story 2,” and “Almost There” from “The Princess and the Frog.” In “The Princess and the Frog,” Newman makes a cameo as “Cousin Randy,” a firefly also visually modeled after him.

His other film work includes scores for “Marriage Story,” “Seabiscuit,” “Pleasantville,” “Parenthood,” and “Meet the Parents.”

“Randy Newman is a unique and brilliant songwriter, composer, and performer whose body of work has proven him to be an artist for the ages. There is absolutely no one like him, and his influence on the music world cannot be overstated. We couldn’t be more proud and excited to acquire Randy’s catalog of beautiful, witty, and sharply observational songs,” said Dan McCarroll, Co-Founder and Chief Creative Officer of Litmus Music.

“Randy’s music has touched so many generations. His songs continue to transcend time and illuminate films. Dan and I and the entire Litmus team are so grateful Randy has trusted us as his partner to care for these songs and recordings. It is an honor and responsibility we don’t take lightly,” said Hank Forsyth, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Litmus Music.

“Randy Newman’s music has been a staple of childhood memories and experiences for decades,” said Alex Popov, Head of Private Credit at Carlyle. “Litmus Music continues to partner with the world’s leading artists to promote and drive value for iconic catalogs.”

Litmus Music is a firm focused on acquiring and managing music rights. It was founded by McCarroll and Forsyth in 2022 and is backed by the Carlyle Group.

Source: Billboard

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