Universal Music Publishing Group’s production music arm, Universal Publishing Production Music (UPPM), is moving its catalogue out of ASCAP after signing with SESAC into the US market.
In a move the company says will ‘enhance UPPM songwriters’ compensation’, the agreement, effective from this month, covers production music songs controlled by UPPM that were previously registered with ASCAP for U.S. exploitation.
It does not affect royalties collected outside of the U.S.
“We’re proud that this agreement provides greater value to our songwriters and pleased to expand our relationship with SESAC,” said Gary Gross, Worldwide President of UPPM.
“Today’s announcement reflects our commitment to maximize writers’ revenues and bring them as many creative opportunities as we can,” Gross continued.
“We will continue to work on our writers’ behalf, and note that our relationship with ASCAP remains close.”
Gary gross, Universal Publishing production music
“We will continue to work on our writers’ behalf, and note that our relationship with ASCAP remains close.”
The agreement removes a specific universe of works from the ASCAP repertory and does not affect a songwriter’s decision to continue overall membership in ASCAP.
For the covered production music songs, ASCAP will continue to pay songwriters royalties through March 31, 2016, as well as for “licenses in effect” through the expiration of those licenses.
Part of the Universal Music Publishing Group, Universal Publishing Production Music, owns U.S. companies include FirstCom Music and Killer Tracks.
UPPM offers full music supervision service including: free music searches, bespoke music edits, re-versioning and commissioned music.Music Business Worldwide
