SONY/ATV SIGNS ELLA HENDERSON TO WORLDWIDE DEAL AHEAD OF RELEASE OF DEBUT ALBUM

18 September 2014 - Press release

Sony/ATV Music Publishing has today announced it has signed Ella Henderson to a worldwide publishing deal.

The long-term agreement follows the release of her chart-topping debut single “Ghost” and comes ahead of first album “Chapter One”, on which Ella has collaborated with some of the world’s most successful songwriters.

Sony/ATV UK A&R Manager/UK Songplugger Jacqueline O’Leary said: “Ella is one of the most successful artist breakthroughs of the year and she is quickly showing everyone that not only is she an incredible vocalist, but a gifted songwriter, too. We are thrilled at Sony/ATV to be part of this exciting new journey for her.”

Ella Henderson said: “When I auditioned for The X Factor it was because I could sing an original song and I hoped it might get me a foot in the door. I've always said that all I want my music to be is real, raw and honest and that has to come from me. I'm so happy to have been given the freedom and creative control to write my debut album, working alongside other writers and producers I have looked up to and admire. I am so happy to sign my publishing deal with Sony/ATV and am excited for what's to come! To be able to call this my job is a dream come true!”

Mark Hargreaves, CEO of Crown Talent & Media Group, which manages Ella Henderson, said: “One of the things that first attracted us to Ella was her songwriting ability, which she first showcased on X Factor. Since leaving the show, Ella has spent the past two years honing her craft, resulting in what I believe is a stunning debut album. Ella has the potential to have a long-term career not only as an artist, but as a stand-out songwriter of her generation. We are delighted to be working with Guy Moot, Jacque and the team at Sony/ATV Publishing.”

Ella Henderson first came to the attention of the world as a finalist on the 2012 season of The X Factor where she wowed the judges each week and won widespread acclaim for her performances, including from superstars such as Adele who said she was “absolutely incredible” and Cher who described her cover of “Believe” as “so touching” that it brought tears to her eyes.

Since the show she has swiftly established herself in her own right and hit the ground running with the release of first single “Ghost” in June. Co-written by Ella, it became one of the fastest-selling singles of the year in the UK with 132,000 copies sold week one to send it straight to the top of the chart, where it stayed for two consecutive weeks. It has since spent more than two months locked in the Top 10 and is the year’s sixth biggest-selling single with around 700,000 sales, according to the Official Charts Company. It has also gone on to be a hit overseas, including in Australia where it reached the top three and went platinum.

Next single “Glow” will be released on October 5 and will be followed a week later by her first album “Chapter One”, whose standard version will feature both singles as well as 11 other songs, all co-written by Henderson. Her songwriting collaborators on the album include Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds (Beyonce, Madonna, Pink, Whitney Houston), Camille Purcell (Jessie J, Little Mix, The Saturdays), Salaam Remi (Alicia Keys, Amy Winehouse, Nas), Steve Robson (One Direction, Take That, Olly Murs), Jamie Scott (One Direction, 5 Seconds Of Summer, Christina Perri), Al Shux (Alicia Keys, Tinie Tempah, Plan B), Ryan Tedder (Adele, Beyonce, Ellie Goulding, OneRepublic), TMS (Emeli Sande, Olly Murs, Little Mix, The Vamps), Claude Kelly (Bruno Mars, One Direction, Miley Cyrus, Britney Spears) and Noel Zancanella (Maroon 5, Ellie Goulding, OneRepublic)