It was a good 17th birthday for Lorde last week. The new 17-year-old music sensation signed a publishing deal on Nov. 7, and the deal is reportedly worth millions of dollars.
According to The Wall Street Journal (via ABC News), Lorde signed a deal with Songs Music Publishing as an on-retainer songwriter. They have also picked up the rights to her songs, which include the smash No. 1 hit "Royals."
Billboard.biz reported that the Lorde publishing deal was a highly competitive race, and Songs best out the likes of Universal Music Group and Sony/ATV. The deal will have Lorde writing under her real name Ella Yellich-O'Connor and feature collaborations with the likes of The Weeknd and Diplo.
"She's gonna be a really big songwriter outside of Lorde. She's going to have a lot of big songs out there as Ella, and it's a great feeling that we can be at a place that understands music comes first and foremost," Songs Music Publishing A&R head told Billboard.
Other Songs Music Publishing acts include Nelly, Bright Eyes mastermind Conor Oberst and Pharrell.
As for that pay out? Billboard reports that Lorde nabbed $2.5 million for the deal, though bids for her writing talents topped out at around $4 million.
Why is Lorde such a coveted songwriter these days? She co-wrote most of the material on her hit debut album Pure Heroine, including "Royals," which has topped the Billboard Hot 100 for seven weeks strong. "Royals" reign at the top of the charts has beaten out more seasoned artists and songwriters, including Katy Perry, Miley Cyrus and Eminem.
