Ed Sheeran Documentary 'Songwriter' Lands 7-Figure Deal From Apple

Getty Images

Apple showed its might, winning an auction for worldwide rights to the Ed Sheeran documentary “Songwriter” following its premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival.

The tech giant paid somewhere in the low- to mid-seven figures, people close to the deal confirmed to TheWrap.

“Songwriter,” directed by Sheeran’s cousin Murray Cummings, mainly follows the musician’s 2016 hiatus between touring his second album, “Multiply,” and writing his third album, “Divide.”

Also Read: Apple SVP Eddy Cue: Don't Expect a Netflix Buyout Anytime Soon

The film premiered at the Berlin International Film Festival in February and is screening this month at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York. “Songwriter” hasn’t been reviewed well, overall.

The Guardian said of the film: “Ed Sheeran is now the subject of this diverting but pretty incurious promo-video-style cheerleading documentary about the build-up to the release of Sheeran’s album, ‘Divide.'”

Apple, which has more than $280 billion cash on reserve, announced last year its plans to pony up $1 billion to invest in Hollywood content. The documentary was picked up by Apple Music.

Also Read: Apple Gives 2 Season Order to Animated Musical Series From 'Bob's Burgers' Creator

During South by Southwest in March, Eddy Cue, Apple’s senior vice president of software and services, said: “We’re completely all in. There’s a difference though; we’re not after quantity, we’re after quality,” said Cue. “We don’t try to sell the most smartphones in the world; we don’t try to sell the most apps, we try to make the best one.”

With former Sony execs Jamie Erlicht and Zack Van Amburg running the show, Apple has already brokered deals for a morning-show series from Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon, as well as a TV series from “La La Land” director Damien Chazelle.

30WEST brokered the deal for “Songwriter,” negotiating with Fox Rothschild’s Marc H. Simon for the filmmakers, while Larry Jackson negotiated for Apple Music.

Grammy Nominations Snubs and Surprises, From Jay-Z to Ed Sheeran (Photos)

The 60th Grammy Awards nominations were a triumph for hip-hop -- but beyond that, they embraced a few dark horses and ignored several favorites. Here's the scorecard.
Getty Images
SURPRISE: Jay-Z, the guy with the most nominations this year, eight, was recognized in major categories (Album of the Year, Song of the Year, Record of the Year) where he was not expected to be a big contender.
Getty Images
SNUB: For the first time in three years, country music was shut out in the top categories, leaving the likes of Miranda Lambert and her “The Weight of These Wings” album out in the cold.
Getty Images
SURPRISE: Julia Michaels, the only white artist in the Best New Artist category also made a surprise appearance in the Song of the Year category with “Issues.”
Getty Images
SNUB: The pioneering rockers Metallica were thought to have a chance to crash the Album of the Year category with “Hardwired … To Self Destruct,” but they ended up with a single nod in the Best Rock Song category.
Getty Images
SNUB: James Arthur, Logic and Cardi B. were considered likelier Best New Artist nominees, but rapper Lil Uzi Vert grabbed the final slot.
Getty Images
SNUB: Everybody thought Ed Sheeran’d be a lock for the top categories, but everybody was wrong -- his album “÷” and song “Shape of You” shockingly landed a paltry two nominations in the pop categories.
Getty Images
SURPRISE: It’s not a surprise that the deep-voiced bard was nominated for his final album, but it’s delicious to find Leonard Cohen competing against Chris Cornell and Foo Fighters in the Best Rock Performance category, and against Alabama Shakes and Blind Boys of Alabama for Best American Roots Performance.
Getty Images
SNUB: Lady Gaga was thought to be a Song of the Year contender for “Million Reasons” and an Album of the Year contender for “Joanne,” but couldn’t get noms outside the pop categories.
Getty Images
SURPRISE: Senator Bernie Sanders lost in the primaries but is now nominated for Best Spoken Word Album for “Our Revolution: A Future to Believe In.” This time, he’s competing against Bruce Springsteen and Carrie Fisher.
Getty Images
SNUB: Kesha did get two pop nominations for her album “Rainbow” and song “Praying,” but she had Song of the Year and Record of the Year aspirations.
Getty Images
SURPRISE: Childish Gambino, the name used by actor Donald Glover in his musical career, wasn’t expected to contend in the Album of the Year and Record of the Year categories, but his album “Awaken My Love” and song “Redbone” were both nominees.
Getty Images
SNUB: We won’t really know if Grammy voters have cooled on Taylor Swift until next year, when her album “Reputation” is eligible. But the singles “Look What You Made Me Do” was eligible, and it was shut out.
Getty Images

1 of 13

Voters loved Julia Michaels, Childish Gambino and Bernie Sanders (!), but didn’t embrace Tayor Swift, Lady Gaga or country music

The 60th Grammy Awards nominations were a triumph for hip-hop -- but beyond that, they embraced a few dark horses and ignored several favorites. Here's the scorecard.

View In Gallery

Grammy Nominations Snubs and Surprises, From Jay-Z to Ed Sheeran (Photos)

Related Content

Ed Sheeran Celebrated Grammys Wins in Purrfectly Adorable Way

Ed Sheeran Accidentally Pictured in Icelandic Newspaper Obituary

Ed Sheeran Doubts He’ll Return to ‘Game of Thrones': ‘No One Wants to See Me Come Back’

7DAYFREETRIAL

7
DAY
FREE
TRIAL