Photo credit: Yazz Alali
Universal Music Publishing Group (UMPG) today announced that esteemed singer/songwriter/producer Dan Wilson has been signed to an exclusive, global publishing agreement. Under the new agreement, UMPG will represent Wilson’s future works, effective immediately.
A highly accomplished musician and lead member of famed band Semisonic, Wilson is a three-time GRAMMY winner in major categories. This week, Wilson won Best Country Song for Chris Stapleton’s “White Horse.” He has also been awarded Song of the Year for co-writing The Chicks' “Not Ready to Make Nice," and Album of the Year for Adele's 21, which featured three of his co-writes including "Someone Like You.”
Additionally, Wilson earned GRAMMY nominations for for GRAMMYS’ Song of the Year for Jon Batiste’s “Butterfly” from Netflix documentary ‘American Symphony,’ Best Rock Song for Semisonic’s “Closing Time,” as well as Album of the Year for Taylor Swift’s Red, on which he co-wrote hit song “Treacherous” in 2012. He also worked Swift on re-producing co-writes for Red (Taylor’s Version). Wilson also received his first ever Oscar nomination for co-writing and producing Jon Batiste’s “It Never Went Away.”
Known as the “songwriters’ songwriter,” Wilson has written with a diverse range of artists across genres – living legends, pop stars, country artists, indie rockers and beyond. Among his collaborators: Carole King, Celine Dion, the Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Florence + The Machine, Chris Stapleton, Tenille Townes, Noah Cyrus, Alec Benjamin, Mitski, Claud, My Morning Jacket, Phantogram, Leon Bridges, Tom Morello, Joy Oladokun, Pink, Halsey, Weezer, Panic! at the Disco, Dierks Bentley, John Legend, Laufey, Vance Joy, Jason Mraz and many more.
Wilson said: “This publishing relationship with UMPG begins a whole new chapter in my musical life. Jenn and the UMPG team are brilliant and inspire confidence. We've hit the ground running, to say the least. I'm very excited to be working with them.”
Jennifer Knoepfle, UMPG Executive Vice President and Co-Head of A&R, said: “I consider it a true gift to work alongside a person who is so storied and accomplished, and yet so open to new experiences and collaborations. Dan trusted UMPG in this vital chapter of his career and we could not be more excited.”
In more recent discography with other artists, Wilson partnered with Mitski for her first released co-write, “The Only Heartbreaker,” as well as co-wrote and produced Celine Dion’s “Love Again” from the feature film and soundtrack.
In 2023, Wilson reunited Semisonic to release ‘Little Bit of Sun,’ the iconic band’s first full-length album in more than 20 years. The record includes features from Jason Isbell and My Morning Jacket’s Jim James, as well as co-writes with GRAMMY-winning songwriters Lori McKenna and Amy Allen.
As a solo artist, Wilson released Dancing On The Moon in September 2022, his first collection of new solo material since 2017. The record followed a string of nearly 20 solo singles he’s released over a span of four years. His other works include debut ‘Free Life’ produced with Rick Rubin, as well as ‘Love Without Fear,’ and 2017 release ‘Re-Covered.’ The Minneapolis-born and Los Angeles-based musician, singer, songwriter, producer, and visual artist was also a member of the Minneapolis psychedelic rock band Trip Shakespeare.