State Champ Radio UMPG
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Maggie Rogers has signed an exclusive worldwide publishing agreement with Universal Music Publishing Group. The deal sees Rogers recorded music and publishing all joining under the Universal Music Group roof, given the singer-songwriter has been a longtime signee of Capitol Records.
Rogers got her start as a NYU student, writing and producing her own material. When Pharrell Williams gave a master class at the university, Rogers showed him a song she had been working on called “Alaska.” His astonishment at Rogers’ prowess as a producer, songwriter and singer was captured in a viral video that catapulted the young singer to instant acclaim. “Alaska” became her first major label release.
Since then, Rogers earned herself a Grammy nomination for Best New Artist and released two albums Heart It In a Past Life — which hit No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Alternative Albums and No. 2 on Billboard 200 — and Surrender (2022) — which landed at No. 2 on Billboard’s Top Alternative Albums chart and No. 3 on Billboard’s Top Rock Albums chart.
News of the publishing deal arrives just as Rogers prepares for her next tour through the U.S. and Europe. In an attempt to combat bots and scalpers, Rogers “went old school” as she put it in a recent Instagram post: she opted for an in-person, box office pre-sale for all tour stops. “F–k bots + f-k fees. come buy a ticket in person. tomorrow only… Come kick it like its 1965,” she wrote.
Rogers was previously signed to Sony Music Publishing.
Rogers said of her new publishing deal: “I’m so proud to call UMPG my home and can’t wait begin this next chapter of my career alongside so many writers and professionals I respect and admire.”
Jennifer Knoepfle, evp and co-head of A&R at UMPG, added, “Maggie is one of my favorite songwriters, and I have been lucky to work alongside her since the early stages of her incredible career. We are so excited for her next chapter in her new home at UMPG, and she will have the best support for her creative journey.”
Halsey has signed a global publishing deal with BMG. The deal includes administration of future songs as well as her recently released single “So Good” and the Calvin Harris-led collaboration “Stay With Me” (also featuring Justin Timberlake and Pharrell).
Previous to this announcement, both Halsey’s recorded music and publishing were handled by Universal Music Group’s Capitol Records and Universal Music Publishing Group (UMPG). Her compositions written prior to the new BMG deal, including the critically acclaimed If I Can’t Have Love, I Want Power (2021), will remain under UMPG’s care.
Halsey says of the deal, “I’m thrilled to announce this partnership with BMG. I was immediately drawn to their artist friendly, songwriter-first mentality and I’m looking forward to taking this journey with my new BMG family.”
One of the industry’s brightest stars today, Halsey, born Ashley Frangipane, became a cult-favorite with their debut album Badlands (2015), an alt-pop compilation that revealed their distinctive sound as both a singer and writer to her followers on Tumblr and to the world. From there, Halsey broke through to the mainstream as the top liner on Chainsmokers’ “Closer,” which reached No. 1 on the Hot 100 and stayed there for twelve weeks. The song eventually broke the record for most weeks in the Hot 100’s top five, with 26 weeks (or six months).
Halsey has remained a top-earning artist ever since, charting on Billboard’s U.S. Money Makers list for 2020, and the singer-songwriter bolstered that monetary success with the critical and artistic acclaim of Manic (2020) and If I Can’t Have Love, I Want Power (2021). Beyond the music, Halsey is also an accomplished author, activist, and entrepreneur. Their book I Would Leave Me If I Could: A Collection of Poetry debuted on the New York Times Best Seller list for 2020, and their makeup brand about-face beauty, an inclusive beauty line for all, is a top seller. Through her music and business pursuits, Halsey is known for drawing attention to important causes, including women’s rights, mental health, and LGBTQ+ rights.
Jason Aron and Anthony Li, Halsey’s co-managers at Anti-Pop, said, “BMG’s creative and refreshing approach to publishing is very exciting. Thomas and his team globally, have welcomed us with open arms. We appreciate their passion and dedication to putting artists first.”
Thomas Scherer, president of repertoire & marketing, Los Angeles and New York, said, “Halsey is an inspiration, a multi-faceted creator with a voice that hits you straight in the heart. We are prepared to present them everything we can offer, with our team’s full support around the world from Australia to Asia, Europe to LATAM, and all throughout North America. We welcome Halsey and their team to BMG and look forward to working alongside with them to elevate them to a whole new level.”
Universal Music Publishing Group (UMPG) has signed an exclusive publishing deal with one of the most essential American songwriters of all time, Irving Berlin, to represent his catalog in all territories worldwide. This expands upon the major’s existing partnership with the Berlin estate, which began in 2012, which named UMPG as Berlin’s publishing administrator outside of the U.S.
Previously, Concord and Imagem (which the former purchased in 2017) handled North American publishing administration, but under the new deal, UMPG will now cover the continent instead.
Additionally, UMPG will take over duties for brand and social marketing efforts for the Berlin estate. This includes the launch of social media channels, including a new TikTok page, which promote the legacy of the songwriter and his legendary songbook — which includes “Anything You Can Do,” “Blue Skies,” “Cheek To Cheek,” “How Deep Is The Ocean,” “It’s A Lovely Day Today,” “I’ve Got My Love To Keep Me Warm,” “Let’s Face The Music And Dance,” “Puttin’ On The Ritz,” “Steppin’ Out With My Baby,” “The Song Is Ended (But The Melody Lingers On),” “There’s No Business Like Show Business,” Guinness World Records’ longtime best-selling single “White Christmas,” and many more — to the next generation of fans.
The company also launched a custom Film & TV industry site which will showcase Berlin’s catalog for sync and theatrical licensing consideration. It uses themed playlists, intuitive tagging and more to help potential licensors find the perfect match within his over 1,500 song catalog.
During his lifetime, publishing administration for Berlin, who was highly protective of his copyrights, was handled by an insular group of six individuals, working in an office on West 46th Street in Manhattan, as the New York Times reported, but in 1990, following his death at the age of 101, Berlin’s publishing administration went to the Rodgers & Hammerstein Organization (RHO) for further exploitation. Nearly two decades later, RHO sold to Imagem in 2009. By 2012, rights to worldwide administration ex-U.S. was given to UMPG while the North American administration was re-signed with Imagem and expanded to include brand management and grand rights exploitation globally. Then, in 2017, there was a major sale between Imagem and Concord Music Group, moving over these duties to the Concord umbrella.
Evan Lamberg, president of North America, UMPG, says of the deal, “I’ve been in the music publishing business my entire working life. It doesn’t get any better than UMPG having the honor of representing the timeless cultural songs of Irving Berlin, as well as working with the wonderful Irving Berlin family and Estate.”
“The family of Irving Berlin enthusiastically welcomes the expansion of their 10 year relationship with Universal Music Publishing Group and looks forward to continued collaboration as the exclusive global music publisher for Irving Berlin’s extensive catalog,” adds Mary G. Campbell of JPMorgan, on behalf of the Berlin’s estate.
