Nick Drake's estate establishes global publishing deal for his back catalogue

An agreement has been made for the publishing rights to Nick Drake's back catalogue. His sister, actor Gabrielle Drake, has said that she has done her "best to protect [her] brother's legacy".

The deal includes three solo albums – Five Leaves Left, Bryter Layter and Pink Moon – which Drake recorded before his untimely death in 1974.

Blue Raincoat Music Publishing was set up when Blue Raincoat Music partnered with the New York-based independent music company Reservoir Media in 2019.

“My reward has been witnessing the burgeoning recognition of his talent but above all the ability his songs have had to help so many,” Gabrielle said in a statement on this deal. “The downside has been trying to anticipate his wishes. He was a perfectionist. He always knew exactly what he wanted for his music. In his utter absence I have so often agonised about what to do.

“But every now and then it is as though he nudged my elbow and said ‘this is right’. Such has been the case with Blue Raincoat. I knew, from the beginning, that they would be right for Nick – from the moment I first heard of their interest from Cally, Nick’s manager – whose appointment was another elbow-nudge from my brother.”

“Nick’s career has so often swum against the tide," added Drake's manager Cally Calloman. "Working with Nick’s songs has always demanded and rewarded close attention and focus, so it was a relief to find that there are still a clutch of song publishers who have the time and dedication to concentrate on the subtleties and details that these songs deserve.”

Jeremy Lascelles, the CEO of Blue Raincoat, said that “there are very, very few song collections that have meant more to me over the years”.

“It is no mean feat to have written songs that are era defining but remain utterly timeless, but that is what Nick has left behind for us all,” he added. “His body of work has been so skilfully and lovingly curated by Cally and Gabrielle over the years, and it is an unbelievable honour that Blue Raincoat Music have been chosen to continue that work along side them into the future.”