Not many publishing companies can boast of having a Pulitzer Prize winner on its books – but that’s exactly what Universal Music Publishing Group has just signed.
UMPG has struck an exclusive, worldwide music publishing deal with Pulitzer Prize-winning author and lyricist Michael Chabon.
Chabon made his successful debut as a songwriter in collaboration with artist and multi Grammy-winning producer Mark Ronson on his No.1 album, Uptown Special (RCA).
Chabon co-wrote lyrics for nine of the album’s eleven tracks.
UMPG will now work to foster new creative opportunities for Chabon in music, and to administer his works on Uptown Special worldwide for synchronization in film, TV, games and other media.
The deal was announced at Universal Music Publishing Group’s first Storytellers event held at Capitol Studios featuring Gerson and guest artist Randy Newman,
“Having been an admirer of Michael Chabon’s work as an author and so impressed by his lyrics on Mark Ronson’s album, it’s very exciting to have him now part of our UMPG family and on our roster of songwriters. It’s only the beginning for him in music,” said Jody Gerson, UMPG Chairman and CEO.
Ronson, a fan of Chabon’s work as an author, approached him to write lyrics for Uptown Special though Chabon had never been active in songwriting or music on a professional level.
Since its release mid-January, Uptown Special has sold hundreds of thousands of copies in the U.S. alone and reached No.1 in the UK, No.5 on the Billboard 200 albums chart.
It went Top 20 in Australia, Belgium, France, the Netherlands, Ireland and Switzerland. The album’s second single, “Daffodils,” features lyrics from Chabon.
As a novelist, Chabon won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 2001 for The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay.
Other novels by the author include The Mysteries of Pittsburgh, Wonder Boys,The Yiddish Policemen’s Union, Gentlemen of the Road and Telegraph Avenue, among others.
[Pictured: Chabon, Randy Newman and Jody Gerson at the Storytellers event.]Music Business Worldwide
