Elvis Costello, acknowledged as one of the UK’s greatest living songwriters, has signed a worldwide, exclusive music publishing deal with BMG to represent his life’s work, including his latest album The Boy Named If, which last week entered the Official UK Albums Chart at number six, his highest chart position since 1994.
Under the agreement, BMG will administer the rights to all of his songs dating back to his debut album My Aim Is True, released in 1977.
A two-time Grammy Award winner – most recently in 2019 for Look Now – and Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame inductee, Elvis Costello has been a songwriting partner of Burt Bacharach, Paul McCartney, and Carole King. His songs have been covered by Linda Ronstadt, Diana Krall, Johnny Cash, Roy Orbison, Zucchero, Dave Edmunds, and Chet Baker, as well as spawning at least six tribute albums from other performers.
The catalog includes songs featured on over 32 studio albums, of which 12 have charted in the UK Top 10. His first three studio albums (released in 1977-79) all appeared in Rolling Stone’s list of “500 Greatest Albums of All Time”.
His catalog includes timeless classics such as ‘Alison’, ‘Watching The Detectives’, ‘Everyday I Write The Book’, ‘Pump It Up’, and ‘Veronica’.
The enduring strength of his songwriting was demonstrated by the 2021 release of Spanish Model, a reimagining of Costello’s 1978 sophomore album This Year’s Model, with vocals in Spanish by Latin stars including Juanes and Luis Fonsi.
Alistair Norbury, BMG President Repertoire & Marketing UK, said, “It is not often that a catalogue as distinguished as Elvis Costello’s becomes available. We look forward to working with Elvis and his management to further raise awareness and appreciation of one of the greatest songwriters the UK has produced.”
Ian Ramage, BMG VP A&R UK, said, “Elvis really is the songwriters’ songwriter. As a music publisher, this is the quality of work we all aspire to represent.”
More at bmg.com
