Meeting a hero is hard enough. Meeting one while trying to impress him with your job title is a recipe for a lifelong memory. In this story, shared by @sign_or_decline, a former music publisher recalls the first time he met Paul McCartney, and the one sentence he wishes he could take back.
The creator says he has plenty more tales from his years in the music business, and this one is told with honesty, humor and a good dose of embarrassment. Here is how it unfolded.
@sign_or_decline
Working for the Beatles publishing company
The creator explained that he worked in the music industry for a number of years. For a while in the 1970s, he worked for the company that published the Beatles’ songs, Northern Songs, which was part of ATV Music, the company he worked for at the time. So his daily work was tied to some of the most famous songs in the world.
Backstage after a Wings gig at Wembley
The first time he met Paul McCartney was backstage after a Wings gig at Wembley. Everyone was lined up, he said, like royalty waiting for a visit. Paul and Linda came down the line and were introduced to each person one by one. Paul’s manager at the time, Brian Brolly, also happened to be the uncle of the creator’s wife back then, which is how he came to be in that line and introduced on a personal basis.
A history he did not know about
What he did not realize at that moment was that Paul’s history with his publishing company, in legal terms, was not good. He simply had not understood how things stood. In other words, Paul was not a fan of the very company the creator worked for. That missing piece of background is what turned a polite introduction into a story that has haunted him ever since.
The wrong thing to say
When it was his turn, the creator wanted to make sure Paul knew he also worked for him in one way or another. So he said, and I’m your publisher. Paul looked at him, made a remark in good jest, and walked away. The creator did not grasp what had happened until a while later. When he did, he felt a wave of relief that it had not gone worse, saying thank goodness.
Turning to jelly
He pointed out that even the most famous musicians in the world have admitted they turn to jelly when they meet Paul McCartney. So what do you say to the greatest musician who ever lived? In his case, he blurted out his job title, just as many people do in a moment of nerves. He ended the story with a playful apology aimed at Paul himself, in the unlikely event it ever reached him. He called it something he remembers with deep embarrassment and deeply regrets, though he did see Paul a couple of times afterward, and they simply said hi.
Music publishing basics and meeting tips
A story like this one invites a few general notes for music lovers, songwriters and anyone who ever expects to meet someone they admire.
- A music publisher generally manages the rights to songs rather than recordings. Its job is to license compositions, collect royalties and help the songwriter earn from their work.
- Northern Songs was formed in the 1960s to publish Beatles compositions, and it later became part of ATV Music. Publishing catalogs have changed hands many times since, which is why the history of who owns which song can be complicated.
- Songwriters should read publishing agreements closely, ideally with an entertainment lawyer, and pay attention to length of term, rights granted and how royalties are split.
- Relationships between artists and publishers can be strained when contracts feel unfair. Knowing the background before an introduction can save a lot of awkwardness.
- When meeting an idol, keep it short and warm. A simple thank you for the music is usually better than a pitch or a job title.
- Do a little research beforehand. Knowing the situation of the person you are meeting helps you avoid stepping on a sore subject.
- If you say something awkward, remember that everyone has done it. Most people forget the moment far sooner than you do.
- Collectors can look for early Wings records and Beatles publishing credits on labels. The writer and publisher credits printed on a record are a window into the business side of music.
When you meet someone you admire, a simple thank you is usually the best opening. Keep it short, be sincere and let them respond. Most artists remember kind words far longer than clever ones, and a calm hello avoids the awkward moments that make for stories years later.
A joke that said it all
The charm of this story is how kind it is to everyone involved. Paul answers with a joke rather than a scolding. The creator laughs at himself decades later. And the listener comes away with a reminder that behind every famous name is a person who may be more relaxed about an awkward introduction than we imagine. The line may have been a mistake, but the memory is a gift. It is a story about nerves, timing and the strange way that history sometimes arrives in a backstage line, waiting for you to say the wrong thing.
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