MUMBAI: Universal Music Publishing (UMP) has signed an exclusive, worldwide administration deal with legendary UK band New Order.
Universal Music Publishing president of Europe and UK Paul Connolly said, “We’re privileged to represent the songs of some of the most iconic and culturally significant British songwriters ever, like The Clash, Johnny Marr, Paul Weller, The SexPistols, Elton John and Bernie Taupin, The Cure, Eurythmics, Elvis Costello and Joy Division. So to be entrusted with a catalogue as important as New Order’s as well is a very special honour indeed.”
The deal with New Order, which was overseen by UMP’s London-based creative director Darryl Watts, sees Universal Music Publishing globally representing the full New Order catalogue by the original four members, including nine studio albums such as Power, Corruption And Lies, Technique, and Republic, as well as classic songs Blue Monday, Regret, Bizarre Love Triangle and True Faith, among others.
Having career sales of more than eight million albums, New Order, consisting of guitarist Bernard Sumner, bassist Peter Hook, drummer Stephen Morris and keyboard player Gillian Gilbert, is one of the most critically acclaimed and influential bands of the last thirty years. Their unique brand of synth pop bridged the gap between post-punk and electronic dance music, combining new wave aesthetics with the electronic textures and disco rhythms of underground club culture. The band formed in 1980 after the break-up of Joy Division, whose catalogue Watts also signed to UMP in 2007.
Band member and bassist Peter Hook said: “When you get to 58 there aren't many momentous occasions in your life, but I had one recently. Our publishing was up for renewal and Darryl Watts at Universal (who are doing a wonderful job with Joy Division) said to me ‘I've been waiting 20 years for this moment’…and you know what... so had I!”
Watts added, “Bands like New Order are the reason I first fell in love with music, and the privilege of working on signings like this is the reason I still do. They have always been true innovators. Put simply, they have an incredible set of songs and I’m absolutely delighted that we’re representing them.”
