CAT'S IN THE BMG BAG

Gathering for a group sing-along of “Peace Train” are, from left, BMG EVP Global Catalogue Recordings Peter Stack, BMG US President Repertoire & Marketing Zach Katz, Yusuf/Cat Stevens and BMG UK President Repertoire & Marketing Alistair Norbury.

Yusuf/Cat Stevens has signed a new umbrella agreement with BMG that includes his songs, numerous recordings, a feature documentary and other audio-visual and literary content.

The new agreement includes an extension of BMG’s long-term worldwide deal to administer rights in his entire music publishing catalog comprising 185 songs written between 1965 and 2017. Stevens, who turns 70 on Saturday, has been with BMG for eight years.

BMG will, for the first time, release nine of Stevens’ albums dating back to 1976. The first of an expected string of catalog reissues and potentially books and audio-visual programmes will be released in 2019.

Peter Stack, EVP, Global Catalogue Recordings said, “Cat-O-Log owns the rights to a significant body of Yusuf’s work, much of it unavailable for years. We look forward to working with Yusuf and his management, led by Yoriyos, to take it to a worldwide audience.”

Yusuf added, “I feel very at home and lots of new creative ventures will soon come to light through the ethical vision we share.”