HELLO, SONY/ATV RE-UPS WITH KURSTIN AND LAUNCHES JV

Sony/ATV has re-upped with mega- songwriter/producer/ musician Greg Kurstin and kicked off a JV that will empower him to sign writers and artists. Seen just before building a fort out of Adele money are (from left) Sony/ATV Co-Head of West Coast A&R Amanda Berman-Hill, Kurstin and manager Rachel Kurstin.

The multiple Grammy winner is best known for his work with Adele (he co-wrote monster "Hello" as well as "Water Under the Bridge" and "Million Years Ago") and Sia (he co-penned and produced "Cheap Thrills"); he also produced the latest Foo Fighters set, which is barreling toward #1 on our chart. His work has been recorded by Beyoncé, P!nk, Kelly Clarkson, Katy Perry, Gwen Stefani, Lana Del Rey, Ellie Goulding and countless others. He also contributed to Kendrick Lamar's juggernaut DAMN. and Halsey's hopeless fountain kingdom (showing great open-mindedness regarding title capitalization) and was Beck's primary collaborator on his forthcoming album.

So, yeah, he's kinda big.

The JV's first signing is writer/musician/producer Wendy Wang; Kurstin collaborator Jesse Shatkin (Sia, One Direction, Fall Out Boy) is also moving to the JV.

Sony/ATV chief Marty Bandier and Berman-Hill sang Kurstin's praises loudly, but they were inside the office humidor so we couldn't hear them.