SANTA MONICA, CA - Universal Music Publishing Group (UMPG), the world’s leading global music publisher, has signed an exclusive, worldwide agreement with STX Entertainment (STX), it was announced today by Jody Gerson, UMPG Chairman and CEO, Sophie Watts, President of STX Entertainment, Thomas McGrath, STX’s Chief Operating Officer, and Jason Markey, Executive VP and head of music for the STX Entertainment Motion Picture Group.
Through the agreement UMPG will administer and represent the studio’s future soundtracks, scores and catalogue of related music publishing rights across all media. STX is currently on track to produce, market and release at least 12 major motion pictures a year. Upcoming films from the company include the thriller Secret in Their Eyes, starring Chiwetel Ejiofor, Nicole Kidman and Julia Roberts; The Boy, a horror film from director William Brent Bell (The Devil Inside), starring Lauren Cohan (“The Walking Dead”); and the epic action-drama The Free State of Jones, starring Matthew McConaughey, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Keri Russell and Mahershala Ali from writer-director and 4-time Academy Award nominee Gary Ross.
“STX Entertainment is an exciting new studio and media company with a fantastic production slate and we have great respect for the entire management team. I’m very pleased to be a part of this opportunity to work with STX from the ground floor and look forward to a long and creative partnership,” said Gerson.
“As we have been building our studio, we have aligned ourselves with the best and most respected market leaders in the industry. Universal Music Publishing Group is a pivotal pillar as we add music to our portfolio of ancillary content and distribution partnerships,” said Watts. “To have our motion picture music rights represented all over the world by UMPG gives us the support of a true global giant, and we are thrilled that Jody Gerson and her team are our partners. This is a win-win for both of our companies.”
Added McGrath, “I am pleased to once again be associated with Universal Music Publishing, with whom I have enjoyed many fruitful collaborations during my career.”
“I have worked with every major administrator and publishing company in the industry and the team at UMPG is far and away the most forward thinking, innovative and aggressive I have ever worked with. We are in great hands with Jody, Brian and their hands-on global team of experts in creative, licensing and administration,” said Markey.
“We are very proud of this new relationship with STX Entertainment. It's a great opportunity to collaborate musically and we're excited to work even more closely with Jason and their talented film executive team,” said Brian Lambert, UMPG EVP/Head of Film and TV Music.
