Apple showed its might, winning an auction for worldwide rights to the Ed Sheeran documentary “Songwriter” following its premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival.
The tech giant paid somewhere in the low- to mid-seven figures, people close to the deal confirmed to TheWrap.
“Songwriter,” directed by Sheeran’s cousin Murray Cummings, mainly follows the musician’s 2016 hiatus between touring his second album, “Multiply,” and writing his third album, “Divide.”
Also Read: Apple Svp Eddy Cue: Don't Expect a Netflix Buyout Anytime Soon
The film premiered at the Berlin International Film Festival in February and is screening this month at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York. “Songwriter” hasn’t been reviewed well, overall.
The Guardian said of the film: “Ed Sheeran is now the subject of this diverting but pretty incurious promo-video-style cheerleading documentary about the build-up to the release of Sheeran’s album, ‘Divide.'”
Apple, which has more than $280 billion cash on reserve, announced last year its plans to pony up $1 billion to invest in Hollywood content. The documentary was picked up by Apple Music.
Also Read: Apple Gives 2 Season Order to Animated Musical Series From 'Bob's Burgers' Creator
During South by Southwest in March, Eddy Cue, Apple’s senior vice president of software and services, said: “We’re completely all in. There’s a difference though; we’re not after quantity, we’re after quality,” said Cue. “We don’t try to sell the most smartphones in the world; we don’t try to sell the most apps, we try to make the best one.”
With former Sony execs Jamie Erlicht and Zack Van Amburg running the show, Apple has already brokered deals for a morning-show series from Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon, as well as a TV series from “La La Land” director Damien Chazelle.
30West brokered the deal for “Songwriter,” negotiating with Fox Rothschild’s Marc H. Simon for the filmmakers, while Larry Jackson negotiated for Apple Music.
Read original story Ed Sheeran Documentary ‘Songwriter’ Lands 7-Figure Deal From Apple At TheWrap...
The tech giant paid somewhere in the low- to mid-seven figures, people close to the deal confirmed to TheWrap.
“Songwriter,” directed by Sheeran’s cousin Murray Cummings, mainly follows the musician’s 2016 hiatus between touring his second album, “Multiply,” and writing his third album, “Divide.”
Also Read: Apple Svp Eddy Cue: Don't Expect a Netflix Buyout Anytime Soon
The film premiered at the Berlin International Film Festival in February and is screening this month at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York. “Songwriter” hasn’t been reviewed well, overall.
The Guardian said of the film: “Ed Sheeran is now the subject of this diverting but pretty incurious promo-video-style cheerleading documentary about the build-up to the release of Sheeran’s album, ‘Divide.'”
Apple, which has more than $280 billion cash on reserve, announced last year its plans to pony up $1 billion to invest in Hollywood content. The documentary was picked up by Apple Music.
Also Read: Apple Gives 2 Season Order to Animated Musical Series From 'Bob's Burgers' Creator
During South by Southwest in March, Eddy Cue, Apple’s senior vice president of software and services, said: “We’re completely all in. There’s a difference though; we’re not after quantity, we’re after quality,” said Cue. “We don’t try to sell the most smartphones in the world; we don’t try to sell the most apps, we try to make the best one.”
With former Sony execs Jamie Erlicht and Zack Van Amburg running the show, Apple has already brokered deals for a morning-show series from Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon, as well as a TV series from “La La Land” director Damien Chazelle.
30West brokered the deal for “Songwriter,” negotiating with Fox Rothschild’s Marc H. Simon for the filmmakers, while Larry Jackson negotiated for Apple Music.
Read original story Ed Sheeran Documentary ‘Songwriter’ Lands 7-Figure Deal From Apple At TheWrap...
- 4/24/2018
- by Trey Williams
- The Wrap
Similar News
Kristen Bell & Adam Brody Stop for Coffee While Filming New Netflix Comedy Series
- 4/24/2024
- by Just Jared
- Just Jared
Melissa McCarthy Defends Meghan Markle Against Critics & Online Hate, Calls Her 'Amazing' & 'Inspiring'
- 4/24/2024
- by Just Jared
- Just Jared
Atomic Blonde writer hoping for a trilogy
- 4/24/2024
- by Kevin Fraser
- JoBlo.com
State of the Emmys race: Best Drama Actress brewing
- 4/23/2024
- by Matthew Stewart
- Gold Derby
Jennifer Aniston's Leprechaun Casting Came With One Condition, Which She Refused
- 4/22/2024
- by Chris Evangelista
- Slash Film
Jennifer Aniston & Courteney Cox Enjoy Night Out with Friends in Beverly Hills!
- 4/20/2024
- by Just Jared
- Just Jared
Emmy Predictions via The Feinberg Forecast: Scott’s Updated Picks, Featuring 11 New Categories
- 4/22/2024
- by Scott Feinberg
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Short Female Celebrities: Ranking 36 Stars by Height and Shoe Size
- 4/22/2024
- by Jan Stromsodd
- Your Next Shoes
Hidden gems in plain sight by Anne-Katrin Titze
- 4/21/2024
- by Anne-Katrin Titze
- eyeforfilm.co.uk
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.
More to explore
‘Wednesday’ Season 2 Casts Thandiwe Newton (Exclusive)
- 4/23/2024
- by Joe Otterson
- Variety - TV News
Terry Carter, ‘Battlestar Galactica’ and ‘McCloud’ Actor, Dies at 95
- 4/23/2024
- by Lexi Carson
- Variety - Film News
‘Deadpool and Wolverine’ Trailer: Hugh Jackman and Ryan Reynolds Fight to the F—ing Death in Raunchy MCU Debut
- 4/22/2024
- by Diego Ramos Bechara
- Variety - Film News
Netflix to Present Sneak Peek of New Wallace & Gromit, Zack Snyder’s ‘Twilight of the Gods’ at Annecy
- 4/22/2024
- by Scott Roxborough
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
‘Lord of the Rings’ Owner Embracer to Separate Into Three Standalone Publicly Listed Entities
- 4/22/2024
- by Naman Ramachandran and K.J. Yossman
- Variety - Film News
Meg Bennett, Soap Opera Actress and Writer, Dies at 75
- 4/21/2024
- by Mike Barnes
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Chuwi Is the Voice of a New Puerto Rican Generation
- 4/23/2024
- by Juan Arroyo
- Popsugar.com
Camila Mendes on Why We Need More Latine Representation in Rom-Coms
- 4/22/2024
- by Brenda Barrientos
- Popsugar.com
Saraciea Fennell: "The Black Girl Survives in This One" Is the Representation I Didn't See in Horror Books
- 4/22/2024
- by Saraciea Fennell
- Popsugar.com
Tell Me Más: Bodine Talks New Album "Quemo Lento" and Growing From Hardships
- 4/22/2024
- by Juan Arroyo
- Popsugar.com
Stephen Colbert Once Laughed So Hard at ‘Tropic Thunder’ His Wife Thought He Was Dying
- 4/24/2024
- by Alison Foreman
- Indiewire
The 10 Best Teen Rebellion Films: ‘Pump Up the Volume,’ ‘Heathers,’ and More
- 4/23/2024
- by Wilson Chapman
- Indiewire
Tarantino’s ‘The Movie Critic’ Could Have Included Olivia Wilde & David Krumholtz, But Probably Not Tom Cruise
- 4/23/2024
- by Rodrigo Perez
- The Playlist
2 Crew Members Hospitalized in Accident on Set of Eddie Murphy Film ‘The Pickup’ for Amazon MGM
- 4/23/2024
- by Brian Welk
- Indiewire
Jerry Seinfeld Calls ‘Mad Men’ Finale the ‘Greatest Final Moment of a Series I’ve Ever Seen’
- 4/23/2024
- by Samantha Bergeson and Tony Maglio
- Indiewire
‘Deadpool and Wolverine’ Trailer: Hugh Jackman and Ryan Reynolds Fight to the F—ing Death in Raunchy MCU Debut
- 4/22/2024
- by Diego Ramos Bechara
- Variety - Film News
New industry convention in Los Angeles aims to “fill the local gap” of departing AFM
- 4/24/2024
- ScreenDaily
Stephen Colbert Once Laughed So Hard at ‘Tropic Thunder’ His Wife Thought He Was Dying
- 4/24/2024
- by Alison Foreman
- Indiewire
The 10 Best Teen Rebellion Films: ‘Pump Up the Volume,’ ‘Heathers,’ and More
- 4/23/2024
- by Wilson Chapman
- Indiewire
Director Quentin Tarantino's Canceled Final Movie Could've Built A Meta Cinematic Universe
- 4/23/2024
- by Jeremy Smith
- Slash Film
‘Wednesday’ Season 2 Casts Thandiwe Newton (Exclusive)
- 4/23/2024
- by Joe Otterson
- Variety - TV News
Terry Carter, ‘Battlestar Galactica’ and ‘McCloud’ Actor, Dies at 95
- 4/23/2024
- by Lexi Carson
- Variety - Film News
Netflix to Present Sneak Peek of New Wallace & Gromit, Zack Snyder’s ‘Twilight of the Gods’ at Annecy
- 4/22/2024
- by Scott Roxborough
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Luke Kleintank to Exit ‘FBI: International’ After Three Seasons
- 4/24/2024
- by Michaela Zee
- Variety - TV News
FBI Recap: Is the Team About to Lose Maggie?
- 4/24/2024
- by Matt Webb Mitovich
- TVLine.com