Warner Chappell Music France Signs Admin Agreement to Represent the Music of Jacques Brel

Photo Credit: Jean-Pierre Leloir

Warner Chappell in France has signed an admin agreement with the estate of Jacques Brel for global representation outside of Belgium.

Brel’s most famous musical works in English include “Ne Me Quitte Pas” (“If You Go Away”) and “Le Moribond” (“Seasons in the Sun”). The deal with the estate covers global representation outside the singer-songwriter’s home country of Belgium. The agreement is between Warner Chappell and Les Éditions Jacques Brel, the publishing company launched by Brel’s wife in 1962. The company is now in the control of Brel’s daughter, France Brel.

Matthieu Tessier, Managing Director, WCM France says, “Today France Brel honored us by signing this agreement which will see Warner Chappell Music expand its work to cover the vast majority of Jacques Brek’s repertoire.”

“We already co-published 16 of his amazing works, and our French and international teams worked hand in hand with France Brel to promote these songs in ways that reflected the spirit of Jacques’ work.”

“It is one of the most prestigious French song repertoires that Warner Chappell Music is honored to represent worldwide, a very proud moment for our team, and for myself as Managing Director of Warner Chappell Music France.”

“I’d like to thank France Brel for her trust, and I can assure her that we’ll continue working every day on making this magnificent catalog known all over the world.”

France Brel says signing the deal with Warner Chappell Music France is the next step for the publishing company her parents started in 1962.

“That year, at the request of her husband, Jacques Brel, my mother established the music publishing company Pouchenel in Brussels. Over the years, as my father’s songs proved to be a success, requests to use them continued to increase, and ‘Ne Me Quitte Pas’ began to travel the world.”

“Since 1981, working alongside my mother, I became aware of the complexity of music publishing, and I made the acquaintance of our partners, including Warner Chappell Music France. From 2004, we worked together more closely when we signed a co-publishing agreement. In 2006, my mother handed me the reins of Éditions Pouchenel, which then became Les Éditions Jacques Brel. What an exceptional gift!”

“At this stage in my life, I am very happy to entrust the Warner Chappell teams to globally represent, outside Belgium, the administration of the Éditions Brel songs created 60 years ago.”