Universal Music Publishing’s Film & TV Department creates opportunities for and licenses our catalogue of songs to film, television, advertising, computer games and stage productions: what is often referred to as ‘synchronisation’. We work closely with each writer to support their creative endeavours and both promote and protect their music at every stage of their career. The UK office has a 12 strong Film & TV team working alongside similar specialist departments in our offices around the world. Covering everything from a song’s first play on UK TV to a major US hit series or scoring original film music, we always treat every use of our artists’ music with equal importance.
Universal Music Publishing won the award for Best Sync Broadcast Advertising at the Music + Sound Awards last night. The winning sync was the use of Elton John’s ‘Tiny Dancer’ in John Lewis’ ad for their home insurance. The endearing spot shows a young girl spinning through the house to Elton’s classic song – almost toppling everything as she whirls past.
“She took a flag and made a place in rock n roll for women.”
Janis Joplin is one of the most revered and iconic singers of all time, she electrified and thrilled millions of listeners with her powerful, soulful voice and blazed new creative trails before her death in 1971 at age just 27. With hits including ‘Mercedes Benz’ and ‘Move Over’ and classic albums such as ‘Pearl’, Joplin was one of the performers who embodied the musical and cultural revolution of the 1960's.
Marks & Spencers' Christmas campaign for 2015 features two syncs from Universal Music Publishing Group writers: Mark Ronson & Bruno Mars ‘Uptown Funk’, co-written by UMPG writer Philip Lawrence, and Clean Bandit’s number one single 'Rather Be', co-written by UMPG’s Jimmy Napes.
Swedish sister duo Vaz, signed to UMPG Scandinavia, have contributed music to the new campaign showcasing the collaboration between H&M and Balmain. One of the most hyped designer - high street collaborations of the year, the range has already whipped the fashion world into a frenzy ahead of it's 5th November launch.
Jamie N Commons ‘Rumble and Sway’ provides the soundtrack to the trailer for the much anticipated new Cohen Brothers’ film ‘Hail, Caesar!’. The film stars Josh Brolin, George Clooney, Scarlett Johansson, Tilda Swinton and Ralph Fiennes, and tells the story of Eddie Mannix (Brolin), a ‘fixer’ in the 1950’s Hollywood film industry, desperately trying to locate the star of the film (Clooney) who vanishes in the middle of filming.
Grammy award winning UMPG songwriter Jimmy Napes has co-written the theme song for the new Bond film ‘Spectre’. ‘Writing’s On The Wall’ – performed by Sam Smith and written by Smith and Napes – is the first James Bond theme song recorded by a British male solo artist since 1965.
Laura Mvula ‘You Work For Me’ provides a powerful soundtrack to the trailer for new Guy Ritchie film ‘The Man from U.N.C.L.E ’. ‘You Work For Me’ is a bold sixties inspired track which showcases Laura Mvula’s incredible vocals.
Five years after 'Your Song' was used in a memorable John Lewis Christmas campaign, Sir Elton John is back to soundtrack yet another advert for the department store.
This lovely little film is featuring the original recording of 'Tiny Dancer' written by John and Taupin and recorded in 1971.
Little known fact is that this song was not released as a single in the UK but have featured on several films and is considered one of Elton’s many hits.
'Brooklyn' is the latest feature from director John Crowley (Boy A, Closed Circuit). The film, starring Saoirse Ronan and Domhnall Gleeson, is set in 1950s Ireland and New York during which young Ellis Lacey (Ronan) has to choose between two men and two countries.