Northern Songs: The True Story of The Beatles Song Publishing Empire

Brian Southall's Northern Songs - The True Story Of The Beatles Song Publishing Empire is the story of how Lennon and McCartney lost the most valuable song publishing catalogue in the world. This is a staggering saga of incompetence, duplicity and music industry politics.

How did major singer turned publisher Dick James get to handle Lennon and McCartney's songs? Why did Michael Jackson's stake in the legendary catalogue cause a rift with Paul McCartney? Why does Paul McCartney now own just two Beatles songs?

Also includes interviews with George Martin, Paul McCartney, the late Dick James' son Steven, Yoko Ono and those in the know from Apple Corp, DJM and EMI.


After 10 years as a journalist, including working for Melody Maker and Disc, Brian Southall joined A&M Records between 1973 and 2003 and worked for EMI records as a consultant to Warner Music International, HMV Group and the British Phonographic Industry. He has written books including the History of Abbey Road Studios, The A-Z of Record Labels and the Story of the Brit Awards.