March 12, 2009

By By Andre Paine, London

19 Entertainment has sealed a new long-term agreement with Universal Music Publishing Group.

UMPG will administer the London-based company's music publishing interests on a worldwide basis for all future publishing signings. All previous publishing catalog and copyrights for 19 continue to be administered by Dutch publisher Imagem Music.

"19 Entertainment is continuing to expand in music and across other areas of entertainment both here in the U.K. and in the States," said Simon Fuller, founder and CEO of 19 Entertainment, in a statement. "We need to partner with the best commercial organizations, and Paul Connolly and his team here in London are second to none. We have ambitious plans for the next few years and I'm delighted to have concluded this deal with Universal Music."

Paul Connolly, President of Europe and U.K., UMPG, added: "19 Entertainment have been one of the dominant music and entertainment powerhouses for years and Simon Fuller and his team have consistently delivered success at the very highest level. We intend to build a wonderful musical legacy together and we are delighted to be representing their music publishing interests throughout the world."

Imagem was founded at the beginning of 2008 following the 2007 acquisition of BMG Publishing by UMPG. The European Commission, the EU's antitrust body, cleared the takeover after UMPG agreed to sell off the publishing rights of 19 Music and 19 Songs, as well as Zomba U.K., Rondor U.K., the greater part of the BBC Music catalog and European rights to the Zomba U.S. catalogue.

19 Entertainment has a portfolio of interests that include television, sports, film, touring, merchandising, music publishing, recording and artist management. Clients include Annie Lennox, Carrie Underwood, the Spice Girls and "Pop Idol" alumni Chris Daughtry and David Cook.

Subscribe to Billboard magazine today!