LONDON, UK - Universal Music Publishing (UMP) has signed an exclusive, worldwide administration deal with legendary UK band New Order, it was announced today by Paul Connolly, President of Europe and UK, Universal Music Publishing.
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 8 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.
Regarding the deal, Rebecca Boulton of Prime Management (who manage Sumner, Morris and Gilbert) said: “We’re really happy to be signing our catalogue to Universal Music Publishing and consolidating our great relationship with Paul Connolly, Darryl Watts and all the fantastic staff at Universal. They’ve done an excellent job on the Joy Division catalogue over the last eight years and we’re looking forward to continuing that success with New Order. It wasn’t an easy decision to make the move, however the time felt right for change for New Order.”
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.”
In making the announcement 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 Sex Pistols, 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.”
