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Sting: A Home for the Music
Photo: Denise Truscello/Getty Images for Caesars Entertainment
British singer-songwriter Sting has sold his career-spanning catalog of songs to Universal's music publishing division.
This was announced by the Universal Music Publishing Group (UMPG) on Thursday.
He joins the circle of numerous stars from the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s who have recently turned their musical work into money.
The deal includes all of Sting's solo work, as well as tracks he wrote for rock band The Police.
This transferred the rights to classics such as "Every Breath You Take", "Roxanne", "Shape Of My Heart", "Message In A Bottle", "Fields Of Gold", "Desert Rose" and "Englishman In New York". .
UMPG did not disclose how much money the company paid to bring the publishing and recording rights under one roof.
"It's absolutely essential to me that the work I've created in my career has a home in a place where it's valued and respected," Sting said in a statement To connect with fans in new ways, but also to introduce my songs to new audiences, new musicians, new generations.«
Sting praised the long and successful collaboration with the Universal Group as a label partner, which is why he wanted to bring all the rights together in this familiar house.
»Now I return to the studio, ready for the next chapter.«
»Permeates global culture«
He released five studio albums between 1978 and 1983 with the band The Police, which Sting led on vocals and bass.
As a solo artist, Sting has released more than a dozen albums, starting in 1985 with The Dream of Blue Turtles and ending with The Bridge in November.
The 70-year-old has been honored with a host of awards, including three Brit Awards - one for outstanding lifetime achievement.
The magazine »Billboard« presented him with its prize of the century;
he received a Golden Globe, an Emmy and was nominated for four Oscars.
Sting, who has also worked as an actor, was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2002.
His compositions have been covered by Johnny Cash, George Michael and Herbie Hancock, among others.
In 2019, the US rights management company BMI announced that »Every Breath You Take« was the most played title in radio history.
"Sting is a songwriting genius," said Universal Music Group CEO Lucian Grainge, "his music permeates global culture." Recent artists to have signed rights deals include Mick Fleetwood and Bob Dylan.
feb/Reuters