U.K. SIGNINGS: TOM WALKER, NETSKY, STEREOPHONICS

After popping the cork on the last bottle of Claret left over from the New Year's Eve party, Universal Music Publishing celebrates the signing of Tom Walker. From left are: Relentless boss Shabs Jobanputra, UMPG VP of A&R Caroline Elleray, UMPG boss Mike McCormack, Walker, manager Simon King and Covert’s Jake Tasker.

After a rather quiet start to the year, British labels and publishers have dusted off their cheque books and signed a host of new acts of late. Amongst the companies bolstering their rosters are Parlophone, Sony, Sony/ATV and UMPG.

In publishing, Relentless priority act, singer/songwriter Tom Walker, has signed with UMPG ahead of his debut album this summer. Walker’s debut EP is set for release in March and has been produced by Jim Abbiss (Arctic Monkeys, Adele). Management is Simon King at Covert.

Stellar Songs (helmed by Tim Blacksmith and Danny D) has signed a global publishing deal with DJ/producer Netsky, who's managed by Luke Mitzman (100 Management). Elsewhere, Peer Music Nashville is repping Irish artist Chris Haze worldwide.

After releasing seven albums on Richard Branson’s V2 (which Universal bought in 2007, then sold to [PIAS] in 2013), and self-releasing their last two, Stereophonics have joined Miles Leonard’s WMG imprint Parlophone for their 10th album. Dan Garnett of Nettwerk Management manages the Welsh rock band.

Over at Sony, TV personality Bradley Walsh has extended his deal for a second album after notching up a rather surprising 111k copies for his debut.

DJ/producer Netsky is surrounded by, from left, lawyer Sonia Diwan, Stellar Songs’ Danny D, manager Luke Mitzman and Stellar Songs’ Tim Blacksmith.