ole, the world‘s fastest-growing independent music publishing and rights management company, announced today it has signed an exclusive, worldwide 360 deal to curate the music and personality legacy of iconic Canadian artist Stompin‘ Tom Connors. Under the deal, ole will manage publishing and master distribution rights, Connor‘s YouTube presence, merchandising and trademark licensing rights.
“We‘re very proud to be entrusted with the legacy of one of the greatest, Canadian artists of all time and we look forward to the opportunity to broaden the audience of Stompin‘ Tom‘s iconic music and personality in the years to come,” said Robert Ott, CEO, ole.
Connors, hailed as the unofficial Canadian poet laureate, is credited with writing more than 300 songs with total sales in excess of 4 million copies. With his homespun and fiercely patriotic brand of music, Connors rich musical legacy includes Canadian country chart topping hits “Bud the Spud”, “Luke’s Guitar”, “The Bridge Came Tumbling Down”, “Sudbury Saturday Night”, “Big Joe Mufferaw”, “Ketchup Song” and Canadian anthem “The Hockey Song”. Connor’s accolades include JUNO Awards for Best Male Country Singer (1971-75) and Country Album of the Year (1978), the East Coast Music Awards Lifetime Achievement Award, SOCAN National Achievement Award (1999), SOCAN Lifetime Achievement Award (2009), the Governor General’s Performing Arts Award (2000), Toronto Musicans’ Union Lifetime Achievement Award (2011), and was the subject of a postage stamp issued in Canada Post’s recording artist series.
“The Connors family would like to thank ole and its staff who have been nothing less than sincerely excited and most helpful in working with us to bring Stompin’ Tom and his great Canadian music to their organization,” said Tom Connors Jr. “They have shown us the same top notch level of professionalism and courteousness that we had been accustomed to over the decades. We look forward to this new relationship where ole, along with Stompin’ Tom, during his own 50th anniversary, will help celebrate Canada in song to the world during its own 150th celebrations this year and beyond.”
About Stompin‘ Tom Connors
Connors won the JUNO Award for best male country singer every year from 1971-75, and his LP To It and At It (1972), received a Juno in 1974 for Country Album of the Year. In 1978, however, he returned the awards in protest of JUNOs given to expatriate Canadians.
In 1993, Connors was to be inducted into the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame, but declined the honour. He accepted the Lifetime Achievement Award from the East Coast Music Awards on the condition that an award was created to honour those who made a long-term contribution to the East Coast music industry and paved the way for other East Coast artists. The Stompin‘ Tom Award was established in 1996, and that year Connors was named an Officer of the Order of Canada.
He was a recipient of a SOCAN National Achievement Award in 1999, as well as the Governor General‘s Performing Arts Award in 2000. In 2009, he received a SOCAN Lifetime Achievement Award and was the subject of a postage stamp issued in Canada Post‘s Canadian Recording Artist series. The East Coast Music Awards honoured him on multiple occasions. Stompin‘ Tom Road in Skinners Pond, PEI is named for him and the Toronto Musicians‘ Union gave him its Lifetime Achievement Award in 2011. He also received honorary degrees from St. Thomas University, the University of Toronto, and the University of Prince Edward Island. This year he will be honoured with the Stompin’ Tom Cultural Centre and Schoolhouse in his hometown of Skinners Pond, PEI slated to open on Canada Day.
