The Weeknd Signs Long-Term, Multifaceted Deal With Universal Music

#1 New York Times bestselling author Nicholas Sparks (The Notebook) has entered into a first-look production agreement with Universal Pictures, which will see him produce three features for the studio alongside Anonymous Content.

EXCLUSIVE: Amber Ruffin and her writing/producing partner Jenny Hagel are expanding their relationship with NBCUniversal.

EXCLUSIVE: Screen icon Sean Young (Blade Runner, Dune) has signed on for a role in the horror film Ouija Witch, which is currently in production. She’s set to star alongside Miley Rose, Jeremy Dean, Cheyenne Phillips, Ryan M. Shaw, LeJon Woods, Rivera Reese, Maggie Wagner and Sean Michael Conway.

Jessica Chastain for The Cut, Sophie, now 26, reflected on coping with the adult subject matter at such a young age."The subject matter was so heavy that I just developed a coping mechanism of just having the most fun in between takes, so I wouldn't get traumatized," she said. "I'm sure I'll exhibit some symptoms of trauma down the road."The fact that Sophie was so young during her "GOT" run may have been beneficial in a way. "At that age, I don't think I could comprehend a lot of the scene matter," she said.

Katie Price’s sister Sophie is set to walk down the aisle next few months, but according to one source she won’t be inviting Katie’s on-off fiancé Carl Woods. Sophie Price, 31, is set to marry her partner of twelve years, Harry Brooks, with the couple sharing a son named Albert who is almost one. Glamour model Katie’s children are thought to all have special roles in the ceremony as ushers and bridesmaids, as well as Katie herself, but Carl is said not to be invited due to their recent “ups and downs”.

Drake has reportedly signed a huge new deal with Universal Music Group.According to Variety, UMG chairman Sir Lucian Grainge confirmed the deal in a Q1 earnings call yesterday (May 3). The outlet has described the deal with Drake as an “expansive, multi-faceted deal with the company that encompasses recordings, publishing, merchandise and visual media projects”.One insider described the Drake deal to Variety as “Lebron-sized,” in reference to LeBron James’ $154million (£123million) NBA deal to join the LA Lakers in 2018, without putting a number on it.The agreement is believed to be similar to The Weeknd‘s recent long-term deal with Universal.

Shirley Halperin Executive Editor, MusicYou wouldn’t know it from Sir Lucian Grainge’s tone in today’s Universal Music Group Q1 earnings call, but the chairman of the world’s biggest music company confirmed what had long been expected, but never to be announced: that Drake has entered into an expansive, multi-faceted deal with the company that encompasses recordings, publishing, merchandise and visual media projects.Such “expanded portfolios,” as Grainge noted in the call, spanning multiple creative lanes and revenue streams, also include the recently-announced extension and expansion of the Weeknd’s deal with UMG, which aligns him — like Drake — with Republic Records.Of course, the nagging question is: how big is Drake’s bag? One insider describes the arrangement as “Lebron-sized,” without putting a number on it. Drake himself has seemingly referenced such a deal in the lyrics to “Lemon Pepper Freestyle” (off of his “Scary Hours 2” EP), which includes the lyric, “Three-sixty upfront, it all comes full circle” — or $360 million.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorWhile year-over-year growth in the wake of a global pandemic is an unprecedented metric for the music industry, Universal Music Group posted a robust first quarter for 2022, with revenue up 21.6% (16.5% in constant currency) to €2.199 billion ($2.31 billion). Many of these boosts are at least partially a result of the gradual reopening of the world’s economy after the lockdown of the pandemic.Music publishing revenue was up 32.5%, recorded-music revenue up 11.3% and merchandising and other revenue up a whopping 69.8% year-over-year in constant currency.The company’s adjusted EBITDA increased 14.0% year-over-year in constant currency.Recorded Music revenues for the first quarter of 2022 were €1,721 million, up 16.0% compared to the fourth quarter of 2021, or 11.3% in constant currency.

Universal Music Publishing has signed Dave Bayley of Glass Animals to a global publishing deal.“There’s so much I want to learn and so much music I want to make in so many different areas – from Glass Animals records, to pop songwriting, to experimental sound design, to scoring”, says Bayley.“When it came time to re-sign my publishing, there were so many wonderful people, ideas and opportunities around that I began to feel a bit lost”, he adds, “but Universal Music Publishing and the incredible team of people there had drawn a long and clear path for me through those ideas… it just felt like a journey I wanted to take. I can’t wait to see what the future holds!”Universal Music Publishing CEO Jody Gerson says: “I am a Glass Animals fan and I am especially delighted to work closely with UMPG’s global creative teams to amplify Dave Bayley’s talents as a writer and producer, not only for his band but also for other artists who inspire and excite him”.Meanwhile, Mike McCormack, Managing Director of UMPG UK, also comments: “Best part of this job is when you get the opportunity to work with a world-class original talent like Dave Bayley.

EXCLUSIVE: Crown Media Family Networks has nabbed another big star before the Christmas movie season. Aimeé Teegarden (Friday Night Lights, Star-Crossed) has signed an exclusive multi-picture overall deal with the company.

K.J. Yossman Kanye West’s 2010 track “Power” has sparked a lawsuit against Universal Music Group over its sampling of prog rock band King Crimson’s “21st Century Schizoid Man.”Declan Colgan Music Ltd (DCM), which own the mechanical rights (the original version of the track) to “21st Century Schizoid Man,” claim that UMG has been underpaying on streaming royalties arising from “Power.”According to the lawsuit, West originally sampled the King Crimson track without a license before uploading the track to YouTube in 2010, where it has since garnered almost 134 million views.

Delisa Paloma-Sisk has spent the past seven years recording soft, eerie, acoustic music as Diatom Deli and touring it across the country. Born and raised in Tennessee with Puerto Rican roots, she currently resides in an Earthship in Taos, New Mexico — a historic colony for outsiders from all disciplines of art. She's now in the late stages of rolling out her third album, Time~Lapse Nature, which is set to arrive May 13 via RVNG Intl.