Universal Music Publishing group signs Hillsong to European administration and writer development agreement

14 August 2019 - Press release

 

 

Universal Music Publishing Group (UMPG), a leading, global publishing company, today announced that Hillsong has signed an administration and writer development agreement in Europe including the UK.

The agreement includes both of Hillsong's music publishing operations - Hillsong Music Publishing and SHOUT! Music Publishing - which together host a significant catalogue of Christian and commercial genres.

Hillsong Music Publishing is the music publishing arm of Hillsong Church which has locations in 23 countries and 200,000 people attending services every week. UMPG will work with Hillsong to provide music publishing administration services for the Church's catalogue in Europe. The deal will also allow for UMPG and Hillsong to collaborate in writer development opportunities, as well as new joint signings. 

The groups published by Hillsong Music Publishing include Hillsong Worship, Hillsong Young & Free, Hillsong UNITED and Hillsong Kids. Hillsong Worship won a Grammy Award in 2018 for Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song with 'What a Beautiful Name' by Ben Fielding, & Brooke Ligertwood. Hillsong UNITED's song 'Oceans (Where Feet May Fail)' by Joel Houston, Matt Crocker and Salomon Ligthelm spent a record 61 weeks at #1 on Billboard's Hot Christian Songs chart and is certified double platinum in the United States. Hillsong Young & Free were nominated for a Grammy in 2016 for their album 'Youth Revival'. Hillsong's groups fill arenas across the globe for their live worship events and have engaged millions of social media users online.  

SHOUT! Music Publishing is home to music publishing operations and signings outside of Hillsong spanning a wide range of genres. SHOUT! boasts an international roster of composers, writers and catalogues, including Ben Fielding, Brooke Ligertwood, Reuben Morgan, Benjamin Hastings, Alex Pappas, Aodhan King, Hannah Hobbs, Melody Wagner, Ryan Taubert and most recent signing, Josh Grimmett (GOODBOYS), co-writer on the MEDUZA hit, 'Piece Of Your Heart'.

Dougie Bruce, UMPG UK A&R said: "The administration agreement with Hillsong is a fantastic relationship that has grown from initially exploring collaborative and creative ideas to formalising a partnership in a unique environment. We are looking forward to integrating their writers into our team and identifying key opportunities across the music sphere. UMPG will also handle some 11,000 existing works, and new signings and songs will further increase this catalogue."

Steve McPherson, Publishing Manager of Hillsong said: "UMPG are leaders in the music publishing world and we're looking forward to exploring the opportunities for our song writers and have great respect and trust in their team. We have had fruitful relationships within the Universal family in different parts of the world for many years and we're very excited to extend this to the UK and Europe."