The publishing rights to music by the late, great Prince have a new home.
Full story below…
Moments ago, it was announced that the Purple one’s colossal catalogue will now be looked after by Universal Music Publishing Group.
The news comes after fierce competition for the coveted rights to material by the singer; unsurprising given the 100 million + records over the course of his career.
Per the press release, UMPG (under the leadership of Jody Gerson) will service and administer the star’s catalog and “work closely with Prince’s estate to develop new creative outlets for his music.”
Translation?
They will strive to maximise the commercial potential of his output.
Speaking on the deal, Universal head Lucian Grainge said:
“We are looking forward to continuing Prince’s legacy and ensuring that generations to come will know his unique brilliance. I congratulate Jody and her team on this landmark deal. Since joining UMPG as Chairman and CEO in 2015, Jody has done a remarkable job at developing and signing some of the most important songwriters and recording artists in contemporary music highlighted by the addition of Prince’s incredible catalog of work.” [Source]
It’s important to highlight that the new deal pertains specifically to publishing – with a view to explore opportunities in the realms of film, TV, and many other mediums. Think Michael Jackson‘s posthumous “career” (‘Circus Soleil’ et al).
On the record label front, Prince’s longtime home Warner have already lined up a 40-song greatest hits; they’re also readying a deluxe ‘Purple Rain’ re-issue with new material. Both are due next year.
According to Billboard, the label’s lengthy relationship with the icon (which, despite its troubles, ran right up until his death) bodes well for their involvement with his output moving forward. So much so that one source claims the rights to provide “label services” for Prince’s classic material as well as his vault of unheard tracks is “Warner’s to lose.”
Needless to say, things are about to get really interesting.
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Awww sh*t extremely rich white people getting extremely more rich. Prince changed his name to the Symbol and fought to own the rights of his music for the EXACT purpose that this wouldn’t happen. Somehow end the end of it all, they STILL end up owning and controlling it. By this time next year, we’ll hear his music installed in some crappy, Chinese made toy made with lead paint.
Jay Z tried to buy it too. I wonder what he was going to do with it?
Try to save Tidal.
He wants Prince’s vault of music and such not his released catalog.
But yes likely to release on Tidal only to gain subscribers is why he wants his unreleased music.
Prince did not have a will
HA! I knew one of the MAJOR labels was gonna get it. SONY | Universal | Warner Bro’s! Those are the BIG 3. Warner Bro’s OWNED Prince during the 80s/early 90s… NOW, Universal OWNS him in the afterlife. Sad. Ahhh well. Jackson is OWNED by SONY.
He is rolling in his ashes right now. It’s almost what is the point of trying to keep your rights, publishing and masters when as soon as you die, your family is going to sell them to the very people you were against. I will NEVER understand why the Jacksons sold MJ music and publishing that was 50% of Sony music away. Mariah better hold in that Fart, these labels will make their money anyway possible at this point.
Lord you are so right Mark, I always said too that with Whitney should had more in her banking. Like yes she wasn’t a songwriter and openly said this but damn wished she had own at least much more publishing of her catalog. God I can only imagine what’s gonna happen to both Mariah and Janet’s catalogs when the Lord calls for them.
The problem with Whitney is that she did not record enough songs early on in her career. Clive Davis let her go years without recording an album in the 90s. By the time My Love Is Your Love came out her voice had already started to decline badly and her range was not as strong.
@Jasmie I wouldn’t say bad as she could still hit notes effortlessly and still ranged supreme along with Mariah still. I agree though on the material, I wished she had recorded more songs and did less concerts such as ” Bodyguard tour” I believe that’s what caused her voice to start it’s decline along with developed nodules on her vocals.
I’m also mad at Aaliyahs dumbest uncle for selling baby girls catalog too!! hence why only AGE Ain’t Nothing but a number is the only album available on iTunes.
The Aaliyah situation is a mess. You can’t find any of Blackground artist albums for sale because they went bankrupt and everything is ceased. No Jojo old albums nor Toni that were released on the label. I’m glad her family (mother and brother) aren’t money hungry and have good taste with her name.
White people ruin everything.
Prince allowed jay z to stream his music on tidal when he was alive you couldn’t get it anywhere else but I guess the white mans wins again???
I am just thankful that his music will be expertly handled so that the Nelson family can have generational wealth. His publishing could have ended up in someone’s hands like Barry Hankerson…or the guy that ruined Jackie Wilson’s income…*shudders*
Wow
Stop making all of this racial. Money talks and . . .