Taylor Swift has signed an exclusive global publishing agreement with Universal Music Publishing Group (UMPG).
The deal, effective immediately, strengthens the existing partnership between Swift and Universal Music Group.
Through a multi-album and multi-year agreement, Universal Music Group serves as Swift’s exclusive worldwide recorded music partner.
UMG’s Republic Records serves as her US label partner.
Today’s signing marks Swift’s departure from Sony/ATV 16 years after she first signed a deal with the publisher. Troy Tomlinson signed Swift to Sony/ATV out of Nashville when she was just 14 years old.
With Tomlinson joining UMPG from Sony/ATV as the latter’s Nashville boss last year, Swift’s new deal reunites the artist with the exec who spotted her talent as a teenager.
Swift has penned numerous Billboard No.1s, including Shake It Off, Blank Space, Bad Blood, We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together and Look What You Made Me Do.
With 25 Billboard Top 10 songs in her catalog, Swift famously penned major global hits including Lover, You Need To Calm Down, ME!, Fearless, Speak Now, You Belong With Me and Love Story, among many others.
A ten-time Grammy winner, Swift is distinguished as one of the youngest recipients of the Grammy for Album of the Year and she is the first female solo artist to win the award twice.
Billboard Magazine named her Woman of the Decade along with one of the Top Artists Of All Time.
She is one of the world’s best-selling music artists, with 97 million total global album consumption and 54 billion total global streams.
Swift is the only artist in history to have four albums with sales of more than one million copies in their first week of release (2010’s Speak Now, 2012’s RED, 2014’s 1989 and 2017’s reputation), respectively.
Lover surpassed 3 million in consumption globally within its first week of release, and in just five months, it has already surpassed 5 million, including more than 1 million in China, where the release earned Swift a new record for an international artist.
Following the 2019 release of her latest album, Lover, Swift became the first female artist in history to have six albums sell more than 500,000 copies in a single week.
Lover was the only album to sell 1 million in US pure album sales in addition to being the top-selling album of 2019.
“I’m proud to extend my partnership with Lucian Grainge and the Universal Music family by signing with UMPG, and for the opportunity to work with Jody Gerson, the first woman to run a major music publishing company.”
Taylor Swift
“I’m proud to extend my partnership with Lucian Grainge and the Universal Music family by signing with UMPG, and for the opportunity to work with Jody Gerson, the first woman to run a major music publishing company,” said Taylor Swift.
“Jody is an advocate for women’s empowerment and one of the most-respected and accomplished industry leaders.”
Added Swift: “Troy Tomlinson has been an amazing part of my team for over half my life and a passionate torchbearer for songwriters.
“It’s an honor to get to work with such an incredible team, especially when it comes to my favorite thing in the world: songwriting.”
“We are honored to welcome Taylor Swift to UMPG. Using her power and voice to create a better world, Taylor’s honest and brave songwriting continues to be an inspiration to countless fans.”
Jody Gerson, UMPG
Jody Gerson, Chairman and CEO of UMPG, added: “We are honored to welcome Taylor Swift to UMPG. Using her power and voice to create a better world, Taylor’s honest and brave songwriting continues to be an inspiration to countless fans.
“We look forward to further amplifying Taylor’s voice and songs across the globe.”
“I’ve had the distinct pleasure of working with Taylor since she was 14-years-old, and she still amazes me daily.”
Troy Tomlinson, UMPG Nashville
Troy Tomlinson, Chairman and CEO of UMPG Nashville, said: “I’ve had the distinct pleasure of working with Taylor since she was 14-years-old, and she still amazes me daily.
“The true definition of a multigenerational artist and songwriter, Taylor’s songs, vision and unwavering determination have always been an inspiration.
“I am so happy and so proud to continue representing Taylor and her music, and I am confident that UMPG will be the best, most creative partner in providing unparalleled opportunities for her songs.”
Picture Courtesy: TAS Rights Management
Pictured Left-Right: Troy Tomlinson, Jody Gerson, Taylor Swift, Sir Lucian Grainge.
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