Tristan Wilson, Founder and Managing Director, Nothing Standard
Nothing Standard, the London-based creative sync agency, has launched a music publishing company in collaboration with Universal Music Publishing Group (UMPG) and a record label distributed by Virgin Music Group (VMG).
The company announced the two ventures on Tuesday (July 21).
Singer-songwriter Morgan Harper-Jones is the first signing to Nothing Standard Publishing through the UMPG collaboration.
Both ventures – Nothing Standard Publishing and Nothing Standard Recordings – have been built around sync, according to the company.
Nothing Standard Recordings launched with distribution via Virgin Music Group, and its first releases arrived in June alongside syncs in Amazon Prime Video‘s film Your Fault: London, the company said.
Morgan Harper-Jones released her debut album Up To The Glass in 2024.
Her version of Coldplay‘s Yellow, recorded with composer Tom Howe, features in the 2026 film Reminders Of Him.
Her EP Water Under The Bridge is due for release on July 29 via co:brand.
“Over the past five years, we’ve been trusted to represent exceptional catalogs and connect their music with audiences around the world,” said Nothing Standard founder and MD Tristan Wilson.
“These new ventures allow us to bring that same philosophy to music we’re developing ourselves, working alongside artists and songwriters from the earliest stages of the creative process.”
“These new ventures allow us to bring that same philosophy to music we’re developing ourselves, working alongside artists and songwriters from the earliest stages of the creative process.”
Tristan Wilson, Nothing Standard
UMPG UK Head of A&R Pete Simmons said: “Nothing Standard are good people, doing brilliant work. They’re true collaborators, permanently curious and leading by example.
“After several writing camps and successful projects together, it’s only right we formalize our collaborative relationship.”
“After several writing camps and successful projects together, it’s only right we formalize our collaborative relationship.”
Pete Simmons, UMPG
UMPG Senior Vice President for Film & TV Europe, Tom Foster, said: “Nothing Standard have built an incredible reputation for themselves and I’m delighted about their new signing Morgan Harper-Jones.
“We love working with them, in particular, the sync writing retreats we have run together have been a huge success.”
“Nothing Standard is at the vanguard of companies whose mission is to expand opportunities for artists around the world.”
Nick Roden, Virgin Music Group
Virgin Music Group‘s President of Europe, Nick Roden, said: “Nothing Standard is at the vanguard of companies whose mission is to expand opportunities for artists around the world.
“We are excited to welcome them into the Virgin Music Group family and look forward to working alongside them to launch and build their new label.”
According to the company, Nothing Standard represents independent labels including Sub Pop, Stones Throw, Moshi Moshi Records, co:brand, DAP, gamma. and Artist Theory as their in-house sync and licensing team.
It also works with management companies including Various Artists Management, September and Method Music, plus the catalogs of Seeker Music Group, Bella Figura Music and Rezonate.
The launches take Nothing Standard beyond representing other rights holders’ catalogs and into signing and developing its own artists and songwriters, adding label and publishing arms to its sync agency.
The launch adds to a run of partnerships between Universal Music Group‘s companies and independent music businesses working in sync, brands and artist services.Music Business Worldwide
