Long-running New York City band Interpol have announced their first album in four years, “This Mirror Weighs a Ton,” which arrives Aug. 28 and also will be their first for Partisan Records, the Brooklyn-based indie currently riding high with Geese and others. The album was produced by Andrew Wyatt (Rosalia, Charli xcx) and mixed by David Fridmann (Sleater-Kinney, Mgmt). The announcement is accompanied by two new songs, the title track and “See Out Loud.”
While the band released its debut album, “Turn on the Bright Lights,” in 2002, its profile is higher than ever overseas, with the band touring Europe, Latin America and Asia regularly and playing its largest show to date last year in Mexico City, where they performed to more than 200,000 people. The band begins a 23-date North American tour next month.
+ Universal Music Publishing Group has unveiled its new brand identity, which includes a new logo, visual identity, tagline and a redesigned website.
“Everything in music starts with a songwriter. Great songs transcend generations, geographies, and formats long after trends fade,” said UMPG chairman & CEO Jody Gerson. “Our new brand is about celebrating the enduring power of songwriting and giving it a clear voice, a lasting home, and a stronger future. It’s an open, evolving identity dedicated to songs, songwriters, and the people behind them; taking on new meaning wherever music goes.”
According to the announcement, the new logo, developed with GrandArmy creative agency, “represents the four corners of the planet—standing for a worldwide community of songwriters and reflecting how UMPG’s reach helps great songs travel across borders and cultures. The circular space at the center of the logo can also serve as a camera frame for songwriters, highlighting their talent and creativity at the heart of the cultural conversation.”
Coinciding with the new brand identity, UMPG is introducing “Publishing 101” beginning June 16. Designed to demystify the world of music publishing, the short-form videos feature members of UMPG’s global team explaining key aspects of the business — from A&R and sync licensing to royalties and administration — while providing an inside look at how music publishers support songwriters at every stage of their careers. New videos will be posted each Tuesday at 9 a.m. PT across the company’s digital and social platforms.
+ Seeker Music Group, the creator-led music company led by Grammy-winning songwriter Evan Bogart, has announced a global distribution partnership with Virgin Music Group. Under the new agreement, Virgin Music Group will serve as Seeker’s global distribution partner for its catalog of recordings and new project releases.
Seeker’s publishing catalog includes some 19,000 songs, such as Shaboozey’s “A Bar Song (Tipsy),” which interpolates Seeker’s catalog cut “Tipsy” by J-Kwon, as well as releases by Mario, Coco Jones, Teyana Taylor, Megan Thee Stallion, Chris Brown, Pop Smoke, and Christopher Cross.
“Seeker represents the kind of forward-thinking, creator-driven company we love partnering with at Virgin Music Group,” said Virgin North America GM. “Steven, Evan, and their team have a unique ability to reimagine catalog and artist partnerships in ways that feel fresh, relevant, and culturally impactful.”
Bogart added, “This partnership is a game-changer for Seeker in how we elevate our catalog and artists. We are so excited about the cultural impact and importance of the records we have the opportunity to support, and Virgin is the best at championing independent catalogs and artists on a global scale.”
+ Warner Chappell Music Nashville and Cornman Music have signed a global publishing deal with Oklahoma-raised singer-songwriter Luke Stevens.
Stevens said: “I couldn’t be more excited to have such a great team with true champions of songwriters around me at Cornman and Warner Chappell. Cornman felt like home and Chris and Nate felt like family the minute I met them. Let’s get to work!”
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