Universal Music Publishing Group (UMPG) has struck a deal with Bruce Springsteen to exclusively administer his entire catalog of songs and future projects. This is the first time a single publisher will represent Springsteen’s catalog worldwide.
UMG will be responsible for developing creative and commercial opportunities for Springsteen’s catalog. The musician is one of music’s most prolific songwriters with success dating back to 1973’s Greetings From Asbury Park, N.J. Songs represented include “Born In The U.S.A.,” “Dancing In The Dark,” “Badlands,” “Thunder Road,” and more, with albums including Born In The U.S.A., The River, Born To Run, Darkness On The Edge Of Town and more.
Along with his own recordings, Springsteen’s work has often been covered by other acclaimed artists, with credits including David Bowie’s “It’s Hard to be a Saint in the City,” Natalie Cole’s “Pink Cadillac,” Joan Jett’s “Light of Day,” Mary J. Blige’s “American Skin (41 Shots),” Manfred Mann’s Earth Band’s “Blinded by the Light,” The Pointer Sisters’ “Fire,” Patti Smith’s “Because the Night,” Rage Against the Machine’s “The Ghost of Tom Joad” and Neil Young’s “My Hometown.”
“During a career spanning more than 40 years, Bruce Springsteen has amassed one of the most iconic catalogs of songs in the history of music,” states Jody Gerson, UMPG’s Chairman and CEO. “As an artist, his demand for excellence and his requirement for heart and passion in everything that you do is the standard for how we operate every day at UMPG. We are thrilled to put the entire global resources of our company into expanding the popularity of his music and creating exciting new fan experiences.”
Springsteen’s career spans 18 studio albums that have garnered 20 Grammys – six for songwriting, and an Oscar in 1994 for Best Original Song for “Streets of Philadelphia.” In 1999, Springsteen was inducted into both the Songwriters Hall of Fame and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, which also inducted The E Street Band in 2014. He was awarded a Kennedy Center Honor in 2009 and he was MusiCares’ 2013 Person of the Year.
Springsteen’s memoir Born to Run (Simon & Schuster) and its companion album Chapter and Verse were released in September 2016. Born to Run will be issued in paperback by Simon & Schuster this September. President Barack Obama awarded Springsteen with the Presidential Medal of Freedom in November 2016 for his role in shaping American music.
The Boss is also plotting an eight week Broadway run at the Walter Kerr Theatre where he will perform a “pared-down version of the set” that he typically does in arenas throughout the world. The run is expected to begin in November with Springsteen performing five times per week. Rumors suggest the run may lead into Springsteen turning Born To Run into a musical, after producers brought the idea to his attention.
