Dave Grohl and other stars join Kobalt Neighbouring Rights

Dave Grohl and other stars join Kobalt Neighbouring Rights

Dave Grohl (pictured with Foo Fighters) is one of several high-profile artists and rights owners to have signed up with Kobalt Neighbouring Rights (KNR), which has agreed to collect their neighbouring-rights royalties internationally.

The news comes as KNR clients, including Sam Smith, Calvin Harris, Jess Glynne and Sigma, amass 26 nominations at the upcoming BRIT Awards on 25 February. The nods include eight of the 10 competing for British Single.

US multi-instrumentalist Grohl is well-known as the frontman/founder of Foo Fighters, as well as being former drummer of the iconic Nirvana. Foo Fighters have sold more than 30 million albums worldwide, and collected 11 Grammy awards, including a record-breaking four in the Best Rock Album category.

In addition to clinching the deal with Grohl, KNR has snapped up US superstar Bruno Mars.

He boasts five No.1 hits on the Billboard Hot 100, at a faster rate than any male singer since Elvis Presley. Last year, he won Grammy Awards for Best Pop Vocal Album, plus the BRIT Award for International Male Solo Artist.

Also joining KNR is Scottish DJ/producer Calvin Harris. Ranked by Forbes as the world’s highest-paid DJ in 2014 for the second year running, Harris has garnered the record for the most UK Top 10 singles from a single album. That amounts to eight hits from 18 Months, his 2012 album.

Breakout UK singer-songwriters Sam Smith and George Ezra, British drum and bass act Sigma, and Norwegian singer-songwriting duo Nico & Vinz are the additional new names on KNR’s roster.

[Juliana Koranteng]