UMG GOES RECORD SHOPPING IN LONDON

Universal Music Group has acquired two of the most important British labels of the ’70s and ‘80s, Stiff and ZTT, and the publishing company behind Art of Noise and Seal, Perfect Songs.

The acquisition from Jill Sinclair and Trevor Horn’s SPZ Group includes the entire ZTT catalog and select Stiff recordings, among them Frankie Goes To Hollywood's Welcome To The Pleasuredome, Kirsty MacColl's "A New England and 808 State's "Pacific State."

With the agreement, Perfect Songs Publishing becomes part of Universal Music Publishing Group, which will develop new creative and commercial opportunities for its extensive song library.

“Stiff and ZTT are truly unique and iconic labels that captured the zeitgeist of their generation and experienced great commercial success, whilst influencing contemporary music entirely on their own terms,” UMG Chairman/CEO Sir Lucian Grainge said. “With Perfect Songs, we are adding an award-winning publishing catalog, rich with hits, acclaim and global success. UMG is committed to building upon the legacy of these revolutionary labels, in keeping with the spirit of their founders.”

Stiff Records was founded in 1976 by Jake Riviera and Dave Robinson and it was quickly the heart of the new wave with a roster that included Elvis Costello, The Damned, Madness and Ian Dury.

Horn, Sinclair and journalist Paul Morley founded ZTT in 1983 and hit the jackpot with Frankie Goes to Hollywood’s "Relax." The catalog includes works by Kirsty MacColl, Shane MacGowan and Lisa Stansfield.

Horn noted that “Grange and Jill were really good friends so I’m pleased that these catalogs are going to Universal.

“I’d like to thank all the writers and the artists on ZTT, Perfect and Stiff. It was a great experience and I enjoyed working with each one of you (most of the time). And I’d like to thank Paul Morley for all the wonderful times at ZTT, Steve Lipson and Anne Dudley, Liam Teeling and Chris O’Donnell (STIFF & Perfect) for their help along the way and Seal.”