MUMBAI: Universal Music Publishing Group has signed an exclusive world-wide publishing agreement with Oscar-winning composer and internationally renowned musician AR Rahman. However, this deal is not inclusive of India.
Included in the deal is Jai Ho (You Are My Destiny), which won Best Original Song at this year’s Academy Awards as well as the Oscar-winning score from Slumdog Millionaire, and its corresponding soundtrack and soundtrack album.
"I’m excited to be working with Universal. I’m looking forward to the opportunity to bring my catalog, as well as new music, to an audience that has welcomed me with open arms," said Rahman.
Rahman captured the international spotlight after winning two Academy Awards for Best Original Score for his work on Slumdog Millionaire and Best Original Song for Jai Ho (Music by Rahman, Lyrics by Gulzar).
Universal Music Publishing Group chairman and CEO David Renzer said, "After seeing Slumdog Millionaire, I was thrilled not only to discover that A.R was available, but he had also managed to retain all the publishing rights to the score! The fact that AR has scored music for over 100 films, sold more than 100 million records, is one the world’s top selling recording artists, and has collaborated with the likes of Andrew Lloyd Webber and others, was icing on the cake. We are looking forward to working closely with his manager Sam Schwartz, and are thrilled to welcome such an accomplished artist to the UMPG family. This is an invaluable new partnership for AR, who is one of the world’s most accomplished musicians. His impressive body of work now has the potential to reach an even broader audience through this relationship with Universal."
The signing also includes a production music component. Rahman will create an exclusive five CD production music series for Universal Publishing Production Music (UPPM). UPPM has production music library operations in the US, UK, France, Germany, Benelux, Hungary, Italy, Scandinavia, South Africa, Australia, Spain, Greece, Turkey and throughout Asia.
Rahman is also planning on releasing his own album through Interscope Records in the future. He is managed by Sam Schwartz, of Gorfaine/ Schwartz Management.
