Leah Flanagan Enters Licensing Agreement With Perfect Pitch Publishing

Independent full service music publisher Perfect Pitch Publishing have today announced the signing of a licensing agreement with Darwin-via-Sydney singer-songwriter and arts administrator Leah Flanagan.

Leah Flanagan has been recognised over the years as one of the most important artists in contemporary Australian music, carving out a unique pocket where her evocative voice and emotionally-riveting songwriting can flourish.

The Alyawarre-Irish artist was born and bred in Darwin, surrounded by Indigenous traditions and European influences, evidently drawing on her family’s history, including stories from her mother and grandmother who was a member of the Stolen Generation, in her work.

Her passion led her to study classical music at the Elder Conservatorium of Music in Adelaide, where she spent years honing her artistry. It was the support and undying encouragement from staff at the Centre for Aboriginal Studies in Music (CASM) that took Leah’s music to a live setting, performing at venues and festivals.

Since, Flanagan has contributed to major cultural projects including joining the Indigenous Australian collective The Black Arm Band, which saw her perform alongside the likes of Sinéad O'Connor, Meshell Ndegeocello, and John Cale. Flanagan has also participated in The Mission Songs Project and Buried Country 1.5: The Story of Aboriginal Country Music, The Spirit of Churaki, all of which were motivated by the platforming of Aboriginal voices and stories. 

Throughout her career, Flanagan has also collaborated with Archie Roach, Yothu Yindi and Shane Howard, and even joined Midnight Oil for their final world tour for the albums The Makarrata Project and Resist. Her contributions to the former album earned her a Gold Record in Australia.

Currently, Flanagan continues her reign as the Director of the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Music Office (NATSIMO) at APRA AMCOS, a position she has held since 2019.

Speaking on the signing, Managing Director of PPP Clive Hodson shared he was “thrilled” that Leah had agreed to the signing and described it as a “privilege” to represent her once again, as Flanagan was previously signed by Hodson to Shock Music Publishing in 2008. Building on an already-established and successful working relationship, it makes complete sense that Hodson and Flanagan’s paths led them to each other once more.