Julian Bunetta and John Ryan, two of the world's most successful songwriters, have struck a deal with one of the industry's leading independent music publishers, Big Deal Music Group, to form a new music company together, Big Family. Between them, Julian and John are responsible for co-writing and/or producing dozens of hit songs by artists such as One Direction, John Legend, David Guetta, Thomas Rhett, Harry Styles, Maroon 5, Niall Horan, Pitbull, Jason Derulo, Charlie Puth, Rudimental, Fifth Harmony, and many others.
Based in Los Angeles, the new enterprise will be co-owned by Bunetta, Ryan, Big Deal Music Group and Family Affair Productions, a company founded originally by Julian Bunetta, his younger brother Damon, and their father Peter, whose relationship with Big Deal CEO, Kenny Macpherson goes back decades. Damon Bunetta and Big Deal partner Casey Robison will be co-CEOs of the new enterprise.
"Julian, John, Casey and Damon have created a very special, incredibly creative community of songwriters who collectively are producing some of the biggest hits in the world," said Mr. MacPherson. "With Casey and Damon at the helm of this new enterprise, Big Family will continue to discover and nurture the hit songwriters of the future."
Damon Bunetta has managed the careers of Julian Bunetta and John Ryan for several years now. He was the General Manager of Syco Music U.S. from 2014 - 2018, working with artists such as One Direction, Fifth Harmony, Camilla Cabello, PRETTYMUCH and others. Prior to that he was a Senior Director of Creative at BMG Chrysalis, where he signed super-producer/songwriter Jason Evigan, among others.
Casey Robison joined Big Deal Music Publishing as Partner in 2013, where his mission has been to build the company's pop songwriter division, signing such major hitmakers as Joe London, Dan Wilson, Jake Sinclair, Danny Parker, Shungudzo, Steph Jones and Teddy Geiger who Casey and Damon signed as a co-venture between Big Deal and Family Affair. Prior to joining Big Deal, he served as Senior Director at BMI. Casey began his career at Chrysalis Music Publishing working with the executive team who are now his partners at Big Deal Music Group.
"We've worked with Kenny, Casey and the entire team at Big Deal for many years now and are thrilled to take this step to formalize a deeper relationship with them under the Big Family banner," said Damon Bunetta. "The formation of Big Family ensures that we can continue to do what we love with the support we need to grow our community and provide the highest level of creative service available in our industry."
Big Family will operate out of the Bunettas' creative complex in Calabasas and West Hollywood, CA, as well as the Big Deal offices in Encino. The new enterprise will continue to foster an environment in which songwriters can collaborate and cross-pollinate by creating intensive songwriter retreats around the country, refining tracks in the Bunettas' studios, and working closely with A&R teams at all the major labels to secure song placements.
"Big Family is an enterprise with a creative center that is driven by the most successful songwriters in the world," said Mr. Robison. "We know that together we can continue to build a creative operation that is unique in the music industry."
Pictured (l-r): Casey Robison, Julian Bunetta, John Ryan, Damon Bunetta, Kenny MacPherson (photo by: Beth Herzhaft)
