Stephanie Iken, Attorney at Law

John Lennon and Paul McCartney began writing songs together as teenagers. Those songs became the foundation of the Beatles and, within a few years, one of the most valuable publishing catalogs in popular music. The shift from songwriting to corporate ownership arrived early, quietly, and with consequences that followed both men for the rest of their careers.

The loss of control unfolded between 1963 and 1969 through share allocation, public trading, and voting mechanics. Each step carried emotional weight that numbers alone never capture.

Formation of Northern Songs in 1963

Northern Songs Ltd. was incorporated in February 1963 to hold the publishing rights to Lennon–McCartney compositions. Publishing governs licensing for recordings, radio play, live performance, film use, and future reproductions. It generates income long after the act of writing ends.

At incorporation, ownership stood as follows:

• John Lennon: 20 percent
• Paul McCartney: 20 percent
• Music publisher Dick James: 33 percent
• Charles Silver: 17 percent
• Remaining shares distributed among minor holders

Lennon and McCartney together held 40 percent. Dick James and Charles Silver together held 50 percent. Voting power followed these percentages.

At the time, this structure felt practical. Lennon and McCartney trusted James to handle administration and licensing. Their attention stayed on writing, recording, and touring. Publishing felt distant from the creative work that defined their lives.

Public flotation in 1965

In February 1965, Northern Songs became a publicly traded company on the London Stock Exchange. Approximately 1.25 million shares entered the public market.

After the flotation:

• Lennon held 15 percent
• McCartney held 15 percent
• Public and institutional investors held the remaining shares

Together, Lennon and McCartney controlled 30 percent of the votes. Board decisions followed majority rule. Strategic authority shifted toward shareholders with no creative connection to the songs.

For Lennon and McCartney, this marked a subtle but profound change. Songs written in bedrooms and vans now sat inside a public company. Decisions about licensing and use followed corporate priorities rather than personal judgment.

Growing distance between authorship and control

Between 1965 and 1968, Northern Songs generated substantial profits. In 1968, reported profits exceeded £2 million, an extraordinary figure for a music publisher at the time.

Lennon and McCartney received royalties and dividends, yet control over licensing strategy and corporate direction rested elsewhere. Each year reinforced the separation between writing the songs and directing their future.

That separation carried emotional consequences. The catalog represented shared history, identity, and trust. Corporate governance reduced it to percentages and votes.

Sale to ATV in 1969

In March 1969, Dick James and Charles Silver sold their combined Northern Songs shares to Associated Television (ATV), controlled by Lew Grade. The transaction totaled approximately £1.5 million.

ATV gained majority control through that sale. Lennon and McCartney learned of the transaction after completion. A company built around their work now answered to outside owners.

Efforts to increase personal holdings followed. Competing bidders entered the market. Share prices rose. Control stayed with ATV.

By late 1969, Lennon and McCartney sold their remaining shares. Songwriter royalties continued under publishing agreements. Governance authority moved entirely into corporate hands.

For both men, this moment carried lasting impact. Ownership of the songs remained. Control over their direction had passed.

The outcome

Lennon and McCartney continued earning income as songwriters. Decisions about licensing, catalog management, and future sales rested with corporate entities. Their relationship to the catalog shifted from stewards to beneficiaries.

Share ownership determined voting power. Voting power directed outcomes. Authorship existed alongside governance rather than within it.

Why this history feels personal

For artists, the Northern Songs story reveals how quickly creative work becomes abstracted into corporate form. For Lennon and McCartney, the songs carried memory, friendship, and identity. The corporate structure treated them as assets.

As a lawyer, this reads as shareholder dilution operating exactly as designed. As a Beatles fan, it feels like watching something intimate move beyond their reach through routine paperwork.

Closing thoughts

The Northern Songs takeover unfolded through percentages, public offerings, and transactions that appeared manageable in isolation. Over time, those steps transferred control completely.

John Lennon and Paul McCartney wrote songs that reshaped popular music. Corporate governance determined who guided those songs afterward.

That separation left a mark on both men. It shaped how they spoke about ownership, control, and trust for the rest of their lives.