Universal Music Publishing Group (UMPG) today announced that award-winning composer, pianist and producer Nicholas Britell has been signed to an exclusive, global publishing agreement.
The mastermind behind one of television’s most famous themes, Britell scores the hugely successful HBO show Succession which has earned him an EMMY for Outstanding Original Main Title Theme and a Hollywood Music in Media Award for Best Original Score (TV Show/Limited Series). The music became so popular on social media that Britell produced a remix of the main title theme with lyrics by hip-hop legend Pusha-T. In addition, Britell scored Jenkins’ critically acclaimed limited series The Underground Railroad for Amazon, earning him an EMMY nomination for Outstanding Music Composition.
A two-time Academy Award nominee, Britell is also known for his critically acclaimed scores on major feature films. For Barry Jenkins’ Moonlight, Britell received his first Academy Award, Golden Globe, and Critics’ Choice nominations, and won the 2016 Hollywood Music in Media Award for Best Original Score (Dramatic Feature). Britell also wrote scores for Adam McKay’s award-winning The Big Short and for Jenkins’ If Beale Street Could Talk. For the latter, Britell received his second Academy Award nomination and was awarded Best Original Score by numerous critics’ groups. In 2018, he wrote the score for McKay’s Vice which went on to receive eight Academy Award nominations including Best Picture.
Britell said: “I am truly thrilled to begin working with UMPG and excited to explore the countless musical and publishing opportunities in today’s landscape. There are so many variables for composers and songwriters to focus on these days — with UMPG, I have found an incredible partner with a phenomenal global team.”
Natasha Baldwin, Executive Vice President, UMPG Classics and Screen, said: “Nicholas is truly a unique writer in today’s global landscape of composing. His ability to blend musical styles, create with every type of artistic collaborator and connect with hugely diverse audiences makes him a very important voice in the contemporary composing and songwriting worlds. We are excited to welcome Nicholas to our UMPG family and help amplify his artistry worldwide.”
Britell’s most recent work is McKay’s much anticipated Netflix comedy Don’t Look Up starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Jennifer Lawrence, for which Britell has already won the 2021 Hollywood Music In Media Award for Best Score – Feature Film. Other recent film work includes his score for Disney’s Cruella starring Emma Stone and Netflix’s The King starring Timothée Chalamet. Britell’s songwriting credits include co-writes with Florence Welch for Cruella as well as Ariana Grande, Scott Mescudi and Taura Stinson for Don’t Look Up. Britell has written songs with Christina Aguilera, Sara Bareilles and Justin Vernon. His works have also been sampled by the likes of Nas and Kid Cudi. Upcoming work includes Jenkins’ The Lion King for Walt Disney.
Luke McGrellis, Vice President of A&R at UMPG, said: “Nicholas’ work as a film composer is world renowned and speaks for itself, but I’m particularly excited for us to work together in the artist space, whether collaborating with a variety of talent, or creating original songs for film & TV projects. He’s brilliant and it’s an honor for UMPG to be his partner.”
The recipient of numerous awards, Britell has been honored by the World Soundtrack Awards numerous times including 2017 Discovery of the Year Award, 2019 Film Composer of the Year for his scores for If Beale Street Could Talk and Vice, 2020 TV Composer of the Year Award for Succession, and 2021 Best Original Song for 'Call Me Cruella' along with co-writers including Florence Welch. Britell has also been awarded the Distinguished Composer Award from the Middleburg Film Festival, ASCAP’s first-ever Harmony Award - with music supervisor Gabe Hilfer - for If Beale Street Could Talk, the ASCAP/Doddle Award for Collaborative Achievement and ASCAP Foundation’s Henry Mancini Fellowship.
Britell has performed publicly at London’s Barbican Hall, the Million Dollar Theatre in Los Angeles, Chicago’s Ravinia, and Lincoln Center’s Alice Tully Hall. He is a Steinway Artist and Creative Associate of the Juilliard School. In December 2018, Britell was inducted into a creative collective "brain trust" formed by Esa-Pekka Salonen, music director of the San Francisco Symphony. Britell is curating a performance for the LA Philharmonic at Walt Disney Concert Hall on November 21 as part of their Reel Changes: The New Era of Film Music, during which Britell will premiere music from Don’t Look Up. The Netflix comedy from Adam McKay will open in select theaters on December 10, 2021 and be available on Netflix from December 24. Britell received three Hollywood Music In Media nominations for his score and Original Song “Just Look Up” and On-Screen Performance for “Just Look Up”, which he co-wrote with Ariana Grande, Scott Mescudi and Taura Stinson. “Just Look Up” is performed by Ariana Grande and Kid Cudi.
In signing with the UMPG family, Britell joins the company’s prestigious global classical and screen composer roster, home to iconic catalogs Ricordi, Durand, Salabert, Eschig, EMB, Decca Publishing, and a portfolio of world-class classical, post-classical, electronic and score composers.
Britell is represented by Robert Messinger of Fortress Talent Management and attorney Christopher Macdougall.
Photo credit: Emma McIntyre / GETTY Images