Universal Music Publishing Group (UMP)Australia, the AU/NZ division of Universal Music Publishing Group, has today announced that Uncanny Valley (UV) – a Sydney-based songwriting and production music company – has been signed to an exclusive, worldwide publishing agreement.
Through the new agreement, UMP and UV will work together locally and globally to build on UV’s presence by enhancing existing alliances and driving new opportunities across audiovisual platforms and UMP’s global networks. Headed by Charlton Hill (right) and renowned music producer Justin Shave (left), UV has made a name for itself across the TV/streaming, recording and advertising industries. For the past 13 years, the company has composed many of Australia’s most watched series, themes, trailers and ad campaigns.
The signing partnership reinforces UMP’s commitment to screen composition as a vital and constantly evolving part of the global music landscape. Last year, UMP launched its Classics & Screen division, bringing together UMP’s established classical composers (Danny Elfman, Max Richter and Alexandre Desplat) and next generation screen music writers (Nicholas Britell, Afrodeutsche and Cassie Kinoshi).
Says Hill: “We’re over-the-top excited about this next chapter for Uncanny Valley, working with UMP’s local and global teams to help forward the screen music division, creating opportunities to collaborate with major and emerging artists and compose for some of the world’s biggest series, networks and brands.”
Says Marianna Annas, vice president, commercial and creative, Universal Music Publishing Australia: “We are beyond thrilled to partner with Uncanny Valley. Charlton and Justin are at the forefront of the screen composition and sound design space, continuously exploring new frontiers and fusing music and technology with unparalleled innovation and limitless creativity.”
With a significant presence in the world of screen music, UV has composed and produced over a decade of music for broadcast and streaming networks such as Paramount, ABC, BBC, Seven, Ten and SBS, news and sports themes including Fox League with artist release ‘Here’ (Briggs feat. Caiti Baker – AGSC award winning), international brand campaigns from Renault F1/Infiniti’s concept car to the launch of Disney Shanghai, and countless series themes and scores including more recently The Bridge (narrated by Hugo Weaving)and Old People’s Home for 4 Year Olds (winner of an Emmy Award).
Adds Shave: “We’re pumped to partner with UMP so we can bring more world-class opportunities to our collaborative collective of songwriters, composers, producers, musicians, vocalists, and orchestrators.”
Shave is producer for notable artists such as Sia, Briggs, Montaigne, and Darren Hayes, among others.
Says Andrew Jenkins, president, Universal Music Publishing Australia & Asia Pacific region: “We’ve admired Charlton and Justin over the years, both as a prodigiously talented songwriting and production team and as true musical innovators in our business. On top of that, they are great partners and we are thrilled by what we plan to accomplish together across music for screens.”
(Photo credit: Nick Bowers)
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