MUMBAI: Universal Music Publishing Group (UMPG) has signed multi-Grammy award winner, Academy Award winner, multi-platinum artist/songwriter/producer, Eminem, to an exclusive, worldwide publishing agreement.

The deal includes Relapse, Eminem’s sixth studio album set to be released on 19 May, 2009. The debut single, Crack a Bottle, rocketed from No. 78 to No.1 on the Billboard Hot 100 setting a new record. It also topped 13 charts worldwide, including the Billboard Pop 100 and the UK R&B Chart. The hit features a collaboration with UMPG’s 50 Cent. Relapse is Eminem’s first studio album release since 2004’s Encore, features long time collaborator and producer, Dr. Dre, as well as UMPG writer Mark Batson on many of the tracks.

"Eminem continues to be an indelible and iconic musical presence around the world. I am so pleased that we will be working with his manager, Paul Rosenberg and the Interscope team on continuing to bring his amazing music to a worldwide audience," said UMPG chairman and CEO David Renzer.

"We are excited about the future of our continued relationship with UMPG, and we look forward to many more years of chart-topping success together," said Eminem’s manager Paul Rosenberg.

Eminem is one of the best selling music artists of the decade, having sold over 70 million albums. He plans to release a sequel to Relapse, Relapse 2, later this year.