Sony Music Publishing UK has signed songwriter and producer Bastian Langebaek to a global publishing deal, in partnership with joint-venture company Second Songs.
The agreement, announced on Wednesday (April 1), covers future works by the Copenhagen-based writer, who is known for his long-running creative partnership with Grammy-winning artist Olivia Dean.
Langebaek co-wrote six tracks on Dean’s second album, The Art of Loving, which reached No. 1 on the UK Albums Chart following its release in 2025. Those credits include Let Alone The One You Love and Baby Steps.
The Art of Loving has earned Langebaek an Ivor Novello nomination in the Best Album category at the 2026 ceremony, alongside co-writers Dean and Max Wolfgang. Dean won the Grammy Award for Best New Artist in February 2026.
According to the announcement, Langebaek has worked with Dean since her debut single, Reason to Stay, which was self-released in 2018. His other credits on her catalog include Dive and The Hardest Part featuring Leon Bridges.
“Thank you for believing in me.”
Bastian Langebaek
“I’m incredibly excited and grateful to sign a new publishing deal with Second Songs & Sony Music Publishing, getting to work once more with Mark Gale, who I first signed with 11 years ago, a moment that changed everything,” said Langebaek.
“As I step into this next chapter, I want to give a big shout out to Caroline Elleray and Tim Major, as well as my friend and manager, the hardest-working person I know, Vaz Pilikian. Thank you for believing in me.”
Beyond his work with Dean, Langebaek has written across a range of genres, with credits on tracks by Anderson .Paak, AURORA, Jessie Ware, Jess Glynne, Nilufer Yanya and Anna of the North, among others.
“It’s a joy to see the songs he’s helped create as they travel all over the world and become the soundtrack to people’s lives.”
Mark Gale, Second Songs
Langebaek was previously signed to Universal Music Publishing Group, where he first worked with Mark Gale. Gale and fellow A&R executive Caroline Elleray left UMPG in 2021 and launched Second Songs as a joint venture with Sony Music Publishing UK in January 2022.
“We are immensely proud and humbled that Bastian has chosen Second Songs and SMP as his publishing home for the next chapter of his career,” said Mark Gale, Second Songs.
“Bastian is one of the most talented and nurturing people you’re ever likely to meet so fits into the ethos of our company perfectly. It’s a joy to see the songs he’s helped create as they travel all over the world and become the soundtrack to people’s lives.”
“Our partnership with Second Songs is the perfect set up for him, reuniting with Mark and utilising our global SMP forces to build on all of his immense success.”
Tim Major, Sony music publishing uk
Tim Major, President and Co-Managing Director of Sony Music Publishing UK, added: “Bastian is an undeniably exceptional songwriter as well as a wonderful human and we are very proud that he has chosen to work with us.
“Our partnership with Second Songs is the perfect set up for him, reuniting with Mark and utilising our global SMP forces to build on all of his immense success. We are grateful to Bastian and Vaz for the trust they have placed in us all.”
During their time at UMPG, Elleray and Gale were responsible for signing writers and artists including Coldplay, The xx, Mumford & Sons, Rex Orange County, Little Simz and Bastille.
Elleray is a previous recipient of MBW’s Sir George Martin Award, which recognizes excellence in UK A&R.
The signing adds to a notable period for the writers behind Dean’s commercial breakthrough. In January 2026, Zach Nahome — the executive producer of The Art of Loving, who produced or co-wrote the majority of the album’s tracks — signed a global publishing deal with UMPG and NWS Music Group.
Dean was among Universal Music Group‘s top sellers in Q4 2025, as previously reported by MBW.Music Business Worldwide