Universal Music Publishing Group today announced that one of the UK’s most influential songwriters, Yusuf / Cat Stevens, has signed to an exclusive, global administration agreement.
Inducted into both the Songwriters Hall of Fame and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Yusuf / Cat Stevens is responsible for some of the most beloved and enduring songs in the canon of popular music. Through timeless hits like “Father and Son,” “Wild World,” “The Wind” and “Morning Has Broken,” Cat’s albums have touched the hearts of millions of fans worldwide. He has gone on to sell over 100 million records and amassed more than 2 billion streams to-date.
Jody Gerson, Chairman & CEO of UMPG, said: “For me personally, ‘Tea for the Tillerman’ and ‘Teaser and the Firecat’ stand the test of time. Songs from both albums do what great music is supposed to do – they make us feel deeply. It’s a privilege to be able to work with Yusuf and Yoriyos and the entire UMPG global team to introduce these incredible songs to new generations.”
Yoriyos Adamos, son and manager of Yusuf, added: “This is the first time the publishing catalogue has been united under one roof with the master catalogue since Chris Blackwell’s Island Records years. I was really excited about teaming up with Jody and Mike after our initial discussions. We share a dynamic vision and are all committed to supporting Yusuf’s music and his timeless message of peace.”
Mike McCormack, Managing Director UMPG UK, said: “Yusuf is one of the greatest British singer/songwriters of his generation, solely writing such ubiquitous songs as “Wild World,” “First Cut is the Deepest,” “Father and Son,” “Moonshadow,” “Lady D’Arbanville,” and “The Wind,” as well as a couple of the best LPs of the 70s in ‘Tea for the Tillerman’ and ‘Teaser and the Firecat.’ Both Jody and I have been fans of his music and songwriting for decades and have been working for many years to bring Yusuf’s catalogue to UMPG UK. In January this year, that dream finally came true.”
Developing from a polished teen idol of the 1960s into a long-haired peace-loving troubadour and one of the most iconic songwriters of the 1970s, Cat’s early success with “I Love My Dog,” “Matthew & Son” and “Here Comes My Baby” soon blossomed into a rawer, more organic style with his seminal albums ‘Teaser and the Firecat’ and ‘Tea for the Tillerman,’ the latter dubbed “the best LP we ever released” by legendary Island Records founder Chris Blackwell.
Cat continued to push musical boundaries with jazz and funk influences on later releases including the electronic LP ‘Izitso’ that spawned the 1977 hit “(Remember The Days Of The) Old Schoolyard” and the weird but wonderful “Was Dog a Doughnut?”
Yusuf / Cat Stevens’ music has been featured in numerous movies, most famously in the Hal Ashby classic “Harold and Maude”, as a major plot point in the end scene of “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2” and most recently the key use of “The Wind” in the multi-Oscar-nominated “The Holdovers.”
His enduring influence was made clear by his triumphant 2023 Glastonbury legend slot performance where he played to an audience of over 100,000 and was met with rave reviews.
Having stepped away from the mainstream music business to dedicate himself to a life of service through education and charity – a practice which he has carried with him since and has seen him receive international recognition for his work in the field of Humanitarian Relief – Yusuf made a return in 2003, where he continues to use his platform to spread his lifelong message of peace.
Photo L-R Yoriyos Adamos, Yusuf Islam and UMPG UK MD Mike McCormack.
