Jack Antonoff has been making major solo moves in recent years, stepping out as a songwriter on pop landmarks like Taylor Swift's 1989 and establishing a publishing company, Rough Customer, in conjunction with Sony/ATV. This week he announced his first signing: Grimes.
"I wanted to start a publishing company to work with friends who are making important work," Antonoff explained in a statement. "It really couldn't be more special to start things with Claire. She's one of my all-time favorite artists and a wonderful person. Her work matters on the highest level and I feel deeply proud to know her, have worked with her and now be involves here as well."
Speaking with Billboard, Antonoff added, "I am creating a community with [songwriters] banding together to have the opportunity to support one another." His manager, Tyler Childs, suggested that Antonoff hoped to inspire a "modern Laurel Canyon scene with a natural, organic group of folks that write together and collaborate on their own projects or others."
An executive at Sony told Billboard, "Grimes is a rare and special talent and we are so pleased that she has chosen Rough Customer and Sony/ATV as her publisher."
