BMG has expanded its long-term administration deal with Cat Stevens, otherwise known as Yusuf, to a new umbrella agreement spanning the range of his creative output, including a feature documentary and other audio-visual and literary content.
More than 50 years of Steven’s songs and many of his recordings are included in the new deal, and an extended administration agreement covers his entire music publishing catalogue comprising 185 songs written between 1965 and 2017.
Stevens, a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, is one of the most successful UK singer-songwriters of all time with his songs contributing to sales of more than 60m albums worldwide.
The agreement will see BMG taking on responsibility for releasing titles from the Stevens recorded music catalogue, including nine albums dating back to 1976.
BMG will work with Stevens and his Cat-O-Log Records company both to honour the legacy of his body of work, and to reach new audiences with his philosophy of peace and commitment to charity.
The agreement was the result of a joint pitch by BMG’s UK and US frontline repertoire and recorded catalogue teams.
“I feel very at home at BMG and lots of new creative ventures will soon come to light through the ethical vision we share.”
cat stevens
Stevens said: “We are happy to continue our relationship with the BMG family.
“I feel very at home and lots of new creative ventures will soon come to light through the ethical vision we share.”
Alistair Norbury, President Repertoire & Marketing BMG UK said: “Yusuf has guaranteed his place in the pantheon of British songwriters over a period of 50 years.
“Yusuf has guaranteed his place in the pantheon of British songwriters over a period of 50 years.
“We are delighted that he has extended his relationship with us in this way.”
alistair norbury, bmg
“We are delighted that he has extended his relationship with us in this way.”
Peter Stack, EVP Global Catalogue Recordings said: “Cat-O-Log owns the rights to a significant body of Yusuf’s work, much of it unavailable for years.
“We look forward to working with Yusuf and his management, led by Yoriyos, to take it to a worldwide audience.”
Zach Katz, President Repertoire & Marketing BMG US said: “No other music company can offer the range of services provided by BMG and we are excited to work with Yusuf across the full range of his creativity.”
The Yusuf / Cat Stevens song collection includes works such as ‘Matthew and Son’, ‘The First Cut Is The Deepest’, ‘Wild World’, ‘Peace Train’, ‘Morning Has Broken’ and ‘Father and Son’.
His reputation was established with a string of albums in the early ’70s including Tea for the Tillerman (1970), Teaser and the Firecat (1971) and Catch Bull at Four (1972).
His most recent release, The Laughing Apple (2017), charted worldwide and was Grammy nominated for Best Folk Album.
Steven’s songs have been covered by artists ranging from Rod Stewart to Boyzone, James Morrison and Sheryl Crow, and are often licensed for use in film, advertising and TV.
The first of an expected string of catalogue reissues and potentially books and audio-visual programmes will be released in 2019.
Pictured L-R: Peter Stack (BMG EVP Global Catalogue Recordings), Zach Katz (President Repertoire & Marketing, BMG US), Yusuf / Cat Stevens, Alistair Norbury (President Repertoire & Marketing, BMG UK)Music Business Worldwide
