Guy Moot, CEO of Warner Chappell Music, the publishing arm of Warner Music Group, is excited to be working with dancehall artiste Teejay.

Moot, a 35-year music industry veteran, signed the Drift deejay to a publishing deal late last week.

In an interview with the Jamaica Observer on Sunday, Moot explained how the deal came about.

“Shani [Gonzales], our UK MD Head of International A&R, was in Jamaica recently and heard Drift everywhere. She sent it to me and I knew Teejay’s manager, Sharon Burke, very well for years. So I reached out to her and connected. I’m thrilled to be working with a current dancehall act from Jamaica, and Teejay is taking the sound forward and, hopefully, there’s much more to come and this is a new phase,” Moot disclosed.

He shared his immediate prospects for the deejay.

“We are looking at licensing opportunities, TV, film, brands, video games, international opportunities, potential features, and co-writing sessions globally, and also working closely with Warner Records.”

Moot explained the basics of a publishing deal.

“A publisher protects and collects the IP/song and the deriving income from songs, whether streamed or played on radio or TV and, to promote creative collaborations, co-writes synchronisation, and does this all on a global scale. It’s really anything we can do to maximise the income,” he said.

Moot previously worked at EMI Publishing, where he guided the affairs of Jamaicans, including music producers Steelie and Clevie, Dave Kelly, Steven “Lenky” Marsden, Sean Paul, Beenie Man, Stephen “Di Genius” McGregor, Nadine Sutherland, and Freddie McGregor.

Within the four years that he has been at Warner Chappell Music, Moot has brought in both McGregors to that roster.

“I’m always looking for more new and established talent, writers and catalogues,” Moot shared.

Moot has signed some of the biggest songwriters including Amy Winehouse, Lana Del Ray, Mark Ronson, Arcade Fire and Arctic Monkeys among several others. He also oversaw the signings of current chart-toppers, including Ed Sheeran, Drake, Calvin Harris, Sam Smith, and Jorja Smith.

After starting his career in 1984 with A&R roles at both ATV Music and Chrysalis Records, Moot joined SBK Music Publishing in 1987. He later moved through the ranks at EMI Music Publishing before he was appointed executive vice-president of A&R for the UK and Europe.

Moot told the Observer that his relationship with Jamaican music began from his youth.

“I grew up somewhere pretty provincial but listened to Dennis Brown, Mad Professor, Bob Marley, and even early Police records influenced UK lovers’ rock, and then I started seriously collecting vinyl and a lot of dubs like Yabba Yu, King Tubby’s, etc. David Rodigan’s show was a must-listen when I moved to London,” said Moot.

He shared that he was pleased with signing Teejay and believes the prospects are very promising.

“I love everything he has online, and I think his music takes from the best of dancehall past and pushes the sound and makes it an international sound with elements of Afrobeats and Eastern Caribbean. It’s a global rhythm, but true to Jamaica.”