Iconic singer/songwriter Janis Ian has signed an exclusive deal with Sony Music Publishing to manage her entire catalog worldwide (excluding Japan). This endeavor expands the company’s partnership with the songwriting legend and marks the first time Ian’s entire catalog has been in one place since 1977.
“I’ve worked with Sony Music Publishing for years, and Esther Friedman and her team have shown their love of music beyond just the business side. Although my catalog’s been with various publishers through the years, I’m tremendously excited about having it all in one place, with people I trust,” says Ian.
“Janis Ian is a one-of-a-kind talent, and her songs are an inspiration to so many. We are delighted to continue our partnership with Janis and we look forward to expanding her musical legacy for generations to come,” says Sony Music Publishing SVP, Creative Marketing, Film & TV Esther Friedman.
The award-winning artist has been making music, entertaining people, and tackling important topics for more than 60 years. She wrote her first song at the age of 12 and two years later wrote and recorded her first hit single, “Society’s Child.” The controversial song about an interracial couple in the 1960s reached No. 14 on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart and No. 13 on Cash Box Pop Singles and Canada’s RPM charts, but was banned by many radio stations because of its subject matter. Surprisingly, it was a hit on Armed Forces Radio, and “Society’s Child” was inducted into the GRAMMY Hall of Fame in 2002.
Ian has since gone on to earn 10 GRAMMY nominations and become a two-time winner. Her songs and performances have resonated with a diverse group of fans, and she is one of just a handful of artists who have received nominations in eight completely different categories. Ian received her first GRAMMY nomination in 1967 for “Best Folk Album” with Janis Ian, featuring “Society’s Child.” She took home her first GRAMMY in 1975 for “Best Pop Vocal Performance, Female – At Seventeen” (in 2008, the song was inducted into the GRAMMY Hall of Fame). Her second win was for “Best Spoken Word Album – Society’s Child: My Autobiography” in 2013. Her 2023 GRAMMY nomination for “Best Folk Album,” The Light at the End of the Line, brought her full circle.
Throughout the years, Ian has released 23 studio albums, along with five live albums. Her songs have been covered by countless artists across all genres and eras, including Celine Dion, Joan Baez, Shirley Bassey, Nina Simone, Glen Campbell, Cher, Patti LuPone, Jeff Beck and Johnny Depp, Mel Torme, and more.
Ian, who was raised by activist Jewish parents on a New Jersey farm and now lives in Florida with her partner and wife of 34 years, is currently mining her archives to release new compilation albums, as well as gearing up for the June 2025 broadcast on PBS’ famed American Masters of a documentary about her life and work. Janis Ian - Breaking Silnce is helmed by award-winning director/producer Varda Bar-Kar, best known for Big Voice (Netflix, PBS) and Fandango at the Wall (HBO, HBOMax). Along with Ian, the film features interviews with friends like Joan Baez, Arlo Guthrie, Lily Tomlin, Jean Smart, Laurie Metcalf, and others. She received the International Folk Music Awards Lifetime Achievement Award in 2023, and was honored by Ireland’s Tradfest and Ireland’s Minister of Culture in 2024 for Outstanding Achievements In the Arts.
