Photo Credit: UMPG
Universal Music Publishing Group (UMPG) has announced it has inked a global publishing deal with Broadway composer Stephen Schwartz.
Through the new agreement, UMPG will represent the majority of Scwhartz’s catalog. Schwartz has written songs for WICKED—including “Defying Gravity,” “Popular,” & “For Good.” WICKED was also adapted into a two-part movie starring Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo. Schwartz also scored GODSPELL, PIPPIN, THE MAGIC SHOW, THE BAKER’S WIFE, WORKING, RAGS, and CHILDREN of EDEN. Schwartz has also scored young audience musicals CAPTAIN LOUIE and Disney’s MY SON PINOCCHIO: GEPPETTO’S MUSICAL TALE.
For films, Schwartz has collaborated with Alan Menken to create Disney hits, including Pocahontas (“Colors of the Wind” & “Just Around the Riverbend”), The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Enchanted, and more. Schwartz also wrote both music and lyrics for DreamWorks’ first animated feature, The Prince of Egypt.
In the classical realm, Schwartz’s opera SEANCE ON A WET AFTERNOON, was performed at Opera Santa Barbara and NY City Opera. He also collaborated with fellow UMPG composer Leonard Bernstein on the English texts for Bernstein’s MASS, and he has composed several frequently performed choral pieces. Internationally, Schwartz authored music and lyrics for MIT EVENTYR in Cophenhagen and SCHIKANEDER in Vienna.
“I am very much looking forward to working with Evan Lamberg and his superb team at UMPG. I value the great expertise and imagination they bring, and I have already experienced their high level of support and encouragement. I know we’ll enjoy this adventure together.”
“Stephen Schwartz is one of the greatest generational hit songwriters of all time,” adds Evan Lamberg, UMPG President of North America. “From Wicked to The Magic Show, to all his wonderful songs for animated features and so much more, it’s a true honor for Jody Gerson and myself to welcome Stephen to our UMPG family as his global music publisher.”
Following the signing, Stephen Schwartz joins UMPG’s roster of composers, including Nicholas Britell, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Isobel Waller-Bridge, Max Richter, Alexandre Desplat, Hildur Guanodottir, Danny Elfman, Kevin Puts, Angélica Negrón James Newton-Howard, David Lynch, Gustavo Santaolalla, and more.
