Photo: (L-R) Niall Horan, Mike McCormack (UMPG), Harry Magee (Modest Management), Richard Griffiths (Modest Management)
Universal Music Publishing Group (UMPG), the global publishing division of Universal Music Group, today announced that multi-platinum singer/songwriter Niall Horan has been signed to an exclusive, worldwide publishing agreement. UMPG is recognized globally as a true music publisher and home to the industry’s leading songwriters.
A lifelong songwriter and self-taught guitarist, Horan has sold over 80 million records and toured the globe multiple times as a member of One Direction, one of the best-selling boy bands of all time. In 2017, the Ireland native released his first full-length solo album ‘Flicker’ which debuted at #1 in the US and Ireland. The Platinum-certified album features triple-Platinum single “Slow Hands” as well as “This Town,” with both songs reaching the top 20 in multiple countries. Follow-up 2020 album ‘Heartbreak Weather’ debuted at #4 in the US and #1 on Irish and UK charts, Horan’s first UK #1 as a solo artist.
Horan said: “It’s my absolute pleasure to sign with UMPG. I have known Mike personally for many years and I’m so happy that I get to work with a man who firstly genuinely cares about artistry and the art of writing a song, and secondly knows the world of publishing like no other. To have met the great Jody Gerson who I’ve known of throughout my career as being a badass publisher and when I felt the love from her and Mike, I wasn’t going anywhere else to be honest.”
With his new and long-awaited third album ‘The Show,’ Horan landed his second UK #1 as a solo artist. The album sees him share his most personal material yet, featuring cowrites from GRAMMY Award-winning UMPG songwriters Jimmy Napes and Tobias Jesso Jr. The album came to life after 29-year-old Horan spontaneously composed its introspective title track late one night on piano, unlocking newfound dimensions of his creativity.
UMPG UK Managing Director Mike McCormack said: “I’ve known Niall for years and he has always shown a deep commitment to the art of songwriting. I’m thrilled UMPG has the privilege to represent his past, present and future solo works and support his artistry alongside Harry and Richard from Modest Management. We are especially excited to be celebrating Niall’s fantastic new LP and know he has a bright future ahead.”
Magee added: “Mike has been talking to me about Niall since our lockdown bike rides and when the album finally started to come together, it was then very post-lockdown in McCormack's kitchen with some great wine, my phone and the obligatory Bluetooth speaker. He really gets Niall's musicality and singer-songwriter spirit which has reached new levels of maturity on this record. Mike was excited from that day and so this partnership has always been written in the stars!”