Publishing Briefs: Idris Elba Deepens UMPG Pact, Plus Nick Drake Estate Sees Bryter Days

Blue Raincoat Music Publishing, in partnership with Reservoir, signed a global publishing deal with the estate of songwriter and poet Molly Drake and renewed its agreement with the estate of her legendary son, Nick Drake. Managed by Gabrielle Drake and Cally Callomon of Bryter Music, the deal unites the musical legacies of mother and son. Although Molly Drake’s lyrical compositions — recorded at home in the 1950s — remained unreleased during her lifetime, they profoundly shaped the musical sensibility of her son Nick. His three studio albums — Five Leaves Left (1969), Bryter Layter (1971), and Pink Moon (1972) — initially overlooked, later gained cult status following his death in 1974. Nick’s melancholic, chamber folk later reached new audiences through a 1999 Volkswagen ad featuring “Pink Moon,” and over the decades he has inspired artists such as Radiohead and Beck. Molly’s music gained posthumous recognition through the documentary A Skin Too Few and the 2007 compilation Family Tree. Blue Raincoat CEO Jeremy Lascelles described working on Nick Drake’s catalog over the past four years as “one of the greatest thrills of my career.” He added that representing Molly Drake’s songs is “an honor and a privilege,” calling them “precious jewels.”

Sony Music Publishing acquired a significant stake in Finland’s leading independent publisher, Elements Music, along with its publishing catalog of roughly 10,000 works. The deal includes a long-term creative partnership, offering Elements’ roster enhanced support via SMP Scandinavia and global access to Sony’s resources. Founded in 2005, Elements represents top Finnish songwriters like Axel Ehnstrom, OLGA and BESS, plus legendary acts such as Eppu Normaali and Popeda. Elements Music owners Tommi Tuomainen and Eero Tolppanen praised the collaboration as a milestone for Finnish music, emphasizing Sony’s shared commitment to creator-driven publishing amid evolving digital landscapes. “Artificial intelligence and global platforms are changing the ways music is used and how compensation models work, and it is important that our partner has enough influence and resources to defend creative professionals,” they said. “Through this deal, the position of Finnish music creators and the future of their works are now better protected.”

Kobalt and Berlin-based umn Entertainment acquired the publishing and writers’ rights to the full catalog of acclaimed German songwriters Peter Plate and Ulf Leo Sommer. The deal includes their work as pop duo Rosenstolz and hits written for artists like Sarah Connor and Roland Kaiser. The acquisition — spanning over 3 billion streams including Bibi & Tina soundtracks and musicals at Berlin’s Theater des Westens — covers both authors’ and publishing rights, marking a landmark transaction in the German music market. Plate and Sommer will use the proceeds to focus on new theatrical productions, including Wir sind am Leben. “Their works are part of our cultural heritage,” said umn co-founders Dominique Casimir, Maximilian Kolb and Justus Haerder. “Our long-standing collaboration is personal – built on friendship, trust and respect – and it is an honor for us to now preserve and develop this body of work together with Kobalt. As umn, we see our role not only in enabling such landmark transactions but in shaping the creative future of these works – creating new contexts, making them accessible to today’s and future generations, and ensuring their continued relevance and impact.”

Warner Chappell Music and Crush Music Publishing signed singer-songwriter Madi Diaz to a global co-publishing deal, marking the first signing for Crush’s new publishing division. Known for her cross-genre style, Diaz recently released her seventh album, Fatal Optimist (Oct. 10), adding to a résumé that includes songs recorded by Maren Morris and Kesha and collaborations with leading producers and songwriters. Her new album follows her Grammy-nominated Weird Faith (2024) and History of a Feeling (2021). Diaz has collaborated with artists like Kacey Musgraves, Lizzy McAlpine, and Harry Styles, touring extensively on Styles’ Love On Tour and Musgraves’ Deeper Well tour. Based in Nashville, Diaz is currently touring in support of Fatal Optimist. “Madi is a talent who defies definition – moving effortlessly across genres while keeping the heart of her artistry rooted in storytelling,” said Carianne Marshall, co-chair and COO of WCM. “With honesty and vulnerability at its core, her songwriting is deeply personal and universally relatable.”

Sony Music Publishing re-upped its exclusive global publishing agreement with British artist and songwriter Daecolm, extending a partnership that began in 2016. The deal covers his existing catalog and future works. Daecolm, celebrated for his versatility across dance, afrobeat, amapiano, and R&B, rose to global prominence in 2024 with HUGEL on “I Adore You,” a Top 20 European hit, following collaborations with stars like Wizkid, Chris Brown, J Balvin and Ty Dolla $ign. In 2025, he continued his momentum with tracks like “Think Of Me” featuring HUGEL, David Guetta, and Kehlani, and “99” with Olamide and Asake. His latest single, “Barry Wonder,” dropped Oct. 17. “It’s been amazing to see Daecolm’s success rising over recent months, it’s truly the fruit of his hard work and the world is really recognising the power of his incredible voice and songwriting,” commented David Ventura, SMP’s senior vp of international.

MusicBird acquired producer income rights from the catalog of multi-platinum producer Rick Parashar, a pivotal force in Seattle’s grunge era and the subsequent post-grunge wave. The deal includes royalties from albums by Blind Melon, Nickelback and 3 Doors Down, adding to MusicBird’s portfolio of over 2,000 songs. Parashar co-founded Seattle’s London Bridge Studios, where he produced landmark albums including Pearl Jam’s Ten, Alice in Chains’ Sap EP, Blind Melon’s debut, and Temple of the Dog’s sole release. His credits also include Nickelback’s Silver Side Up, featuring the massive hit “How You Remind Me,” and 3 Doors Down’s Away From the Sun, both part of the acquired catalog alongside Blind Melon’s album (with “No Rain”) and AiC’s classic “Would?” off Dirt. The investment excludes Ten, Sap and the Temple of the Dog album, all iconic works he produced. “Rick was instrumental in shaping the rock sound of Seattle and he continued to create hits as a producer right up until his passing,” said MusicBird CEO Paul Brown. “We are honoured that his family has placed its trust in MusicBird as the custodian of his work.”

Concord Music Publishing signed artist, songwriter and producer Josef Kuhn, aka Nickname Jos, to a universal co-publishing deal covering his full catalog and future works. A fixture in Nashville’s indie scene, Jos has collaborated with artists including Annie DiRusso, Hannah Cole, Samia, The Greeting Committee, Tommy Lefroy and Mali Velasquez. In August, Jos released his self-produced debut album Buckshot; he’s currently touring with Sombr and will make his Saturday Night Live debut next month. Concord’s director of sync A&R Jen Hubbard praised Jos for his authenticity and distinctive voice, calling him “an extraordinary talent… he brings a rare authenticity and a distinctive creative fingerprint to every song he touches.”

Sony Music Publishing Poland marked its 20th anniversary with an event on Oct. XO, attended by executives including Jon Platt, Guy Henderson and SMPP managing director Anna Laskowska. The event featured awards for creatives Ryszard Kunce, Szymon Wysocki and hip-hop icon Sokół, along with a live performance by BEMY, following a creative roundtable that welcomed rising Polish talent earlier in the day. Since launching in 2005, SMPP has grown to represent artists across 10 Central and Eastern European countries (including Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Slovenia, Serbia, Croatia and Georgia). With over 40% local chart share and a thriving roster, the company reflects Poland’s fast-growing music market. “In so many ways SMP Poland is the ultimate publishing success story,” said Henderson — SMP’s president of international. Added Laskowska: “Every song we publish at SMP Poland carries with it the trust our songwriters place in us as partners on their paths from great to greatness.”

Drumatized and EMPIRE Publishing have partnered with Nashville-based multi-platinum producer and songwriter Brandon Manley, further strengthening their presence in Music City. Known for his work with Chase Matthews, Billy Ray Cyrus and David Morris, Manley has built a reputation for crafting genre-blending country records that merge raw Southern storytelling with modern sounds. The collaboration reflects both companies’ mission to break barriers and foster cultural crossover, bringing hip-hop’s spirit into Nashville while amplifying a new generation of country music. With Manley on board, Drumatized and EMPIRE aim to deliver globally resonant music that transcends borders and builds community. “I’ve always admired Brandon’s ability to move effortlessly across genres,” said Vinny Kumar, EMPIRE Publishing’s SVP and head of global business. “We are excited to partner with Tay Keith’s Drumatized to amplify his sound to audiences worldwide.”

Universal Music Publishing Group signed songwriter, producer and multi-instrumentalist Miles Clinton James to an exclusive global publishing deal. Recently shortlisted for producer of the year at the Music Business UK Awards, Miles is best known for producing and co-writing Little Simz’s 2025 album Lotus. His collaborators include Kokoroko, Cleo Sol, Sault, Tom Odell, Yussef Dayes, Yazmin Lacey, Foals and Tom Misch. UMPG’s George Quann praised James as “in a league of his own as a creative,” having “already worked on an array of world-class projects.”

Warner Chappell Music officially cracked open the Portuguese market with the signing of Maninho, one of the country’s most acclaimed singer-songwriters and “a real statement of intent for us in the territory,” said executive Santiago Menéndez-Pidal. Maninho rose to fame in 2021 with his debut single “Pode Tentar” and he’s also written for top artists like Bárbara Bandeira and Mariza. The signing aligns with Warner Chappell’s strategy to support Portuguese talent with global appeal and reflects the growing influence of Portuguese music in the Latin-speaking world. Executives Santiago Menéndez-Pidal and Carmen Picado are collaborating across Southern Europe to develop new opportunities. The company is also working closely with Warner Music Portugal and its Creative Hub in Lisbon to strengthen ties between publishing and recorded music operations. Said Menéndez-Pidal: “Maninho is an incredible songwriter and guitarist, and someone we can see working with our biggest artists and writers around the world.”

Victor Le Masne inked a global administration deal with Warner Chappell Music, covering all works under his Multiman Records, managed by WCM teams in France and the U.S. As composer and music director for the 2024 Paris Olympics, Le Masne created original music for the ceremonies, including the anthem “Parade,” and collaborated with stars like Lady Gaga and Jean-Michel Jarre. A leading figure in French music for over two decades, Le Masne first gained fame with electro-pop duo Housse de Racket, collaborated with artists like Kavinsky and Juliette Armanet, and since 2022 has served as musical director for the award-winning musical Starmania. His accolades include a Grammy and a Victoire de la Musique (an elite honor in France). Said Le Masne: “This transatlantic collaboration between the U.S. and France feels both unique and exciting, and I’m honored to join such a legendary music house.”

Warner Chappell Music Nashville entered into a strategic joint partnership with publishing/management/A&R consulting company Perfect Game Creative, founded and led by music executive Jessi Vaughn Stevenson. Stevenson previously spent a decade with Warner Chappell, most recently serving as vice president, A&R & digital. In the partnership, Stevenson will continue working with select Warner Chappell writers, including Morgan Wallen, Parker McCollum, Riley Green and rising singer-songwriter Schmitty. Perfect Game’s publishing division will team with WCM to sign and develop talent beginning in January 2026. Austen Adams, president of WCM Nashville, said, “I’m so proud to see Jessi bring her vision for Perfect Game Creative to life. She’s always led with creativity, instinct, and an unwavering dedication – consistently helping songwriters reach their full potential. We’re thrilled that our partnership will allow us to continue working closely together, united by our shared belief in putting songwriters at the heart of everything we do.” –Jessica Nicholson

Sony Music Publishing Nashville and Showbiz Ro Music signed Canadian songwriter and producer Peter Daniel Newman to a global publishing deal. Newman has worked with artists from Nashville to Europe, including Megan Moroney’s “Georgia Girl” and Parmalee’s Country Airplay Top 10 single “Cowgirl.” His credits span country hits, Eurovision entries and Netflix’s The Gangs of Oslo. Starting in the early 2000s, he’s collaborated with Clint Black, David Guetta, and others. Sony Music Publishing Nashville CEO Rusty Gaston said, “Peter is driven, determined, and destined for a long and successful career on Music Row. It’s incredible to be celebrating his first Top 10 Country single already.”

Venezuelan singer-songwriter Alleh signed a global publishing deal with Warner Chappell Music Latin. Known for genre-defying singles like “Baby Guaya” and “De Mentira,” Alleh rose to international fame through his collaboration with Yorghaki, including their viral hit “capaz (merenguetón),” which won a Premios Juventud award. Alleh, nominated for best new artist and best urban/urban fusion performance at the upcoming Latin Grammys, launched a world tour this month with Yorghaki in support of their debut album LA CIUDAD, with stops in Los Angeles, New York and Madrid.

Reservoir Media and PopArabia announced two major acquisitions to strengthen their footprint in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) music market. The companies acquired all compositions and masters from Iraqi music production house HFM Production, founded by composer Humam Hassan, which has produced over 500 recordings. The deal includes upcoming releases from HFM’s roster, featuring artists like Ahmed Al Maslawi and Salma Rachid. Reservoir and PopArabia have also acquired publishing and recorded rights to the catalog of Kuwaiti star Essa Almarzoug, celebrated for fusing Khaleeji melodies with modern Arabic pop on hits like “Qanabel” and “Akher Hebah.” “HFM and Essa have demonstrated an ability to create quality music that resonates with fans not only from their home countries, but also across the region,” said PopArabia’s Wissam Khodur. “Our team is excited to grow our portfolio with these diverse catalogs.”