Sony Music UK has signed a joint venture with country label WTW Music – which nets the major the next album from hotly-tipped duo Ward Thomas.
The JV, between WTW Music and Sony Music Commercial Group, was negotiated by Nicola Tuer, COO, Sony Music UK.
It will Ward Thomas developing and recording new music, with an album due to be released later this year.
The duo – 21-year-old twin sisters, Catherine and Lizzy Ward Thomas – released debut album From Where We Stand through WTW Music in 2014.
It has so far sold 25,000 copies in the UK and been named UK Album of The Year at the British Country Music Awards.
It also reached No.1 in the iTunes Country Chart and the OCC‘s Country Artists Album Chart where it was No.1 for 10 consecutive weeks.
“We are thrilled to welcome ward thomas into the sony family – our first ever UK country signing.”
Nicola Tuer, Sony Music UK
Ward Thomas were championed by the late Terry Wogan on his Radio 2 show and performed in front of an audience of 55,000 at Radio 2’s annual event Live in Hyde Park in September 2015.
Other notable supporters have included Bob Harris and Chris Evans.
Catherine and Lizzy Ward Thomas said: “We are so excited to be moving forward with Sony; everyone is so positive and we can’t wait to start working with the new team on our next album.”
Nicola Tuer says: “We are thrilled to welcome Ward Thomas into the Sony family, as our first ever UK country signing.
“Their talent is enormously refreshing and infectious. I have no doubt they have an exciting future ahead of them”.
John Woollcombe of WTW Music says: “We have been blown away by the excitement and enthusiasm that Nicola and her team have shown for Catherine and Lizzy.
“By building on everything Ward Thomas achieved on the first album, we are entirely confident this partnership with Sony can take Catherine and Lizzy’s career to the next level and ensure they fulfill their huge potential both in the UK and abroad.”
[PIctured L-R: Jon Cauwood, Roland Hill, Catherine Ward Thomas, Nicola Tuer, Lizzy Ward Thomas, John Woollcombe and Phil Savill]Music Business Worldwide
