Newly-merged indie publisher posts clear intentions.

Atlantic Screen Group has 18-month plan to become one of top five independent publishers

By Paul Williams

The partners behind the newly-merged venture comprising Atlantic Screen Music and the Independent Music Group are aiming to become one of the biggest five indie publishers within the next 18 months.

Atlantic Screen Group, which has Independent Music Group (IMG) founder Ellis Rich as chairman and Atlantic Screen Music (ASM) CEO Tim Hollier as director, is now in negotiations to acquire four catalogues as it looks to realise its ambitious target.

"We're not interested in anything less than being one of the top three, four or five independent majors," says Hollier whose merger with IMG was announced last month and follows Copyright Administration Services (CAS), which he founded, being acquired last year by Atlantic Screen Music.

Under the newly-merged structure Atlantic Screen Group serves as the parent company and incorporates IMG (where Rich continues as CEO), ASM (where Hollier is CEO) and includes CAS and a series of film deals, including with Ealing Studios and with Bend It Like Beckham producer Deepak Nayar's Kintop Pictures. Nayar himself is on board as a director of Atlantic Screen Group.

Rich's decision to team up with Hollier and Atlantic came after the end of a relationship IMG had with a New York bank, which had previously been investing in the publisher.