Deal unites legend’s iconic musical works in one place

Universal Music Group (UMG) has announced the acquisition of the entirety of Neil Diamond’s historic song catalog through Universal Music Publishing Group (UMPG), its leading global publishing division, as well as the rights to all recordings from his career, including 110 unreleased tracks, an unreleased album and archival long form videos.

This comprehensive global agreement unifies Diamond’s recorded music and publishing in its new permanent home at Universal Music Group, giving the company unparalleled ability to amplify the iconic artist and songwriter’s body of work and maximize the value of the catalogue. Diamond’s legacy of unforgettable hooks, warm baritone and unique ability to articulate human emotions have inspired audiences worldwide, selling more than 130 million albums over the past half century. As noted at his induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2011, “Neil Diamond wrote for himself, but he spoke to everybody” – an appeal that put more than 70 songs onto the Billboard charts.

The deal builds upon UMPG’s existing relationship with Diamond, as the company has served as his publishing administrator since 2014. Additionally, UMG’s agreement with Diamond cements a professional homecoming, reuniting his early Bang recordings and post-1972 recordings with those he recorded exclusively with UMG’s MCA Records between 1968 and 1972, a period in which he created and released hits such as “Sweet Caroline,” “Holly Holy,” and the chart-toppers “Cracklin’ Rosie” and “Song Sung Blue.” Since 2013, UMG and Diamond have enjoyed a fruitful recording agreement and licensing deal for the non-MCA recordings through its Capitol Music Group division and Universal Music Enterprises (UMe), a close working relationship that produced three albums.

Under the new agreement, which includes previously unreleased tracks, UMG will also record and release Diamond’s future music, should he decide to return to the studio.

“After nearly a decade in business with UMG, I am thankful for the trust and respect that we have built together and I feel confident in the knowledge that Lucian, Jody, Bruce, Michelle and the global team at UMG, will continue to represent my catalogue, and future releases with the same passion and integrity that have always fueled my career,” Diamond shares.

Diamond’s songs have been covered by Johnny Cash singing “Solitary Man,” UB40 performing “Red Red Wine,” Frank Sinatra singing “Sweet Caroline,” Andrea Bocelli’s re-interpretation of “September Morn” as “Sara’ Settembre,” The Monkees’ signature “I’m A Believer” and Barbra Streisand singing “You Don’t Bring Me Flowers” – the latter, coincidentally, a classmate of Diamond’s at Brooklyn’s Erasmus Hall High School. His music has been used to soundtrack some of the most popular film & TV series of all time, from The Simpsons, Friends, Mr. Robot and The Big Bang Theory to Donnie Brasco, Once Upon A Time In Hollywood and Urge Overkill’s scene-stealing rendition of “Girl You’ll Be A Woman Soon,” taken from Tarantino’s Pulp Fiction, and of course his own starring turn in 1980, as the lead in The Jazz Singer.

As previously announced, the world premiere of The Neil Diamond Musical: A Beautiful Noise, a new musical production from Ken Davenport and Bob Gaudio, inspired by his life will open for a strictly limited six-week engagement at Boston’s Emerson Colonial Theatre on Tuesday, June 21st, before heading to Broadway, with tickets on sale in early March.

Diamond’s accolades, among others, include a Grammy, a Golden Globe, Kennedy Center Honors and an ASCAP Film and Television Music Award, as well as induction into both the Songwriters Hall of Fame and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Such achievements reflect Diamond’s relentless devotion to his craft, and his songs’ enduring appeal to hope.

By acquiring Diamond’s entire catalog, all masters and unreleased concert video – and through ongoing collaboration with the artist himself – UMG is determined that new and growing audiences will remember this unmatched singer and his music for generations to come.