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Ultra International Music Publishing

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Ultra International Music Publishing (UIMP) is an American independent music publisher founded in 2004 by Patrick Moxey.[1][2] It publishes the catalogs of hundreds of songwriters and producers, including Wheezy, Zaytoven, and Marshall Jefferson.[3][4][5] Its copyright catalog includes songs by artists such as Drake, Rihanna, David Guetta, and Madonna.[6]

History

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Prior to founding Ultra International Music Publishing, Patrick Moxey had managed Gang Starr and other hip-hop artists through Empire Artist Management.[7][8][9] In 1992, Moxey founded Payday Records, which had signed artists such as Jay-Z, Mos Def’s group UTD, and Jeru the Damaja and others.[7][10] In 1996, Moxey founded the Grammy Award-winning record label Ultra Records, which he sold to Sony Music Entertainment in 2021.[1][11][12]

Moxey founded Ultra International Music Publishing in 2004.[1]

UIMP signed a deal with record producer and songwriter Wheezy for the rights to publish his catalog in 2018.[4] It went on to sign a deal extension with Wheezy in 2021.[4] The extension gave Ultra Music Publishing rights to songs composed by Wheezy from artists such as Drake, Travis Scott, Meek Mill, and Lil Uzi Vert.[4]

In 2022, Ultra International Music Publishing filed a copyright complaint in the U.S. District Court in New York after Kanye West sampled the 1986 song “Move Your Body” by Marshall Jefferson, which was part of its catalog, without permission.[5][13][14] Both parties entered into informal talks about a settlement after West’s law firm, Greenberg Traurig, withdrew from the case.[15] In the same year, the publisher signed a deal with Warner Chappell Music that made WCM Ultra’s sub-publisher in the United Kingdom.[6][16]

UIMP signed Atlanta-based songwriter and record producer Zaytoven to a co-publishing deal in 2023.[17][3][18] The deal gave UIMP publishing rights to Zaytoven’s catalog and provided support for his development of new music, including collaborations with the company in London, Los Angeles, and Atlanta.[17][3][18] As a result of the deal, UIMP obtained the rights for songs by artists such as Migos, Travis Scott, Lil Wayne, and 21 Savage.[17][18][19][3]

In 2023, UIMP also signed a deal with Los Angeles-based record producer Christian “Diamond Pistols” Dold to launch the new music publishing company Hidden Gem.[20][21] In the same year, the company also opened offices in Nigeria, to support its expansion into West Africa and the development of artists in the Afrobeats genre.[22]

Ultra International Music Publishing has had shares in top-selling tracks such as “Cheerleader” by OMI, “Firework” by Katy Perry, “Say You Won’t Go” by James Arthur, and “Looking for Me” by Diplo.[23][24][25]

Selected roster

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References

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  1. ^ a b c "Which Ultra? Dance Music Festival, Label and Publisher Share Name but Are Not Connected, Market Confusion Be Damned". Variety. 2023-03-20. Retrieved 2024-06-11.
  2. ^ "Ultra Embraces Streaming Singles to Keep a Dance Genre Booming". The New York Times. 2016-01-10. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2024-06-11.
  3. ^ a b c d "Zaytoven Sells Catalog; SOFI TUKKER Extends With Third Side". Billboard. 2023-02-02. Retrieved 2024-06-11.
  4. ^ a b c d "Dan Wilson Moves to UMPG; Ultra Extends Wheezy; Kobalt Signs JULiA LEWiS". Billboard. 2024-02-15. Retrieved 2024-06-11.
  5. ^ a b "Marshall Jefferson sues Kanye West over alleged unauthorised Move Your Body sample". Guardian. June 30, 2022. Retrieved 2024-06-11.
  6. ^ a b "Music Industry Moves: Capitol Records Launches in China". Variety. 2022-03-04. Retrieved 2024-06-11.
  7. ^ a b "Patrick Moxey Relaunches Classic Hip-Hop Label Payday Records: Exclusive | Billboard – Billboard". web.archive.org. 2022-08-14. Retrieved 2024-06-12.
  8. ^ "Sony buys full ownership of Ultra Records; Patrick Moxey exits, David Waxman takes over as President". Music Business Worldwide. 2022-01-20. Retrieved 2024-06-12.
  9. ^ "Sony taps Patrick Moxey in EDM push". Variety. 2013-01-23. Retrieved 2024-06-12.
  10. ^ "Patrick Moxey launches label group, inks global strategic alliance with Warner for Helix and Payday Records". Music Business Worldwide. 2022-03-24. Retrieved 2024-06-12.
  11. ^ "Veteran Exec Patrick Moxey Unveils New Label Group With Warner Music". Variety. 2022-03-24. Retrieved 2024-06-12.
  12. ^ "Exclusive: Ultra Music, Ultra Music Festival Announce 'Global Alliance'". Billboard. 2012-08-10. Retrieved 2024-06-12.
  13. ^ "Kanye West sued over sample: 'There's a right and wrong way to do it'". 2022-06-30. Retrieved 2024-06-11.
  14. ^ "'No Shame': Kanye West Sued Over 'Donda 2' Sample". Rolling Stone. 2022-06-30. Retrieved 2024-06-11.
  15. ^ "Kanye West copyright case in limbo after law firm asks to withdraw". Reuters. November 4, 2022.
  16. ^ "ULTRA ALIGNS WITH WCM U.K." HITS Daily Double. Retrieved 2024-06-11.
  17. ^ a b c "Music Industry Moves: Tame Impala's Kevin Parker Adds Brandon Creed to Management Team". Variety. 2023-01-27. Retrieved 2024-06-11.
  18. ^ a b c "Patrick Moxey's Ultra International Music Publishing acquires catalog of Grammy-winning producer Zaytoven". Music Business Worldwide. 2023-01-24. Retrieved 2024-06-11.
  19. ^ "Zaytoven Sells Music Catalog To Ultra International Music Publishing". VIBE.com. 2023-01-25. Retrieved 2024-06-11.
  20. ^ "Patrick Moxey's Ultra International Music Publishing launches Hidden Gem joint venture with producer Diamond Pistols". Music Business Worldwide. 2023-03-07. Retrieved 2024-06-11.
  21. ^ "Ultra International Music Publishing and producer Diamond Pistols partner to set up new music publishing company Hidden Gem". Creative Industries News. 2023-03-06. Retrieved 2024-06-11.
  22. ^ "Patrick Moxey's Ultra International Music Publishing expands into West Africa". Music Business Worldwide. 2023-02-13. Retrieved 2024-06-11.
  23. ^ "OMI (Louder Than Life/Ultra/Columbia)". HITS Daily Double. Retrieved 2024-06-11.
  24. ^ "Ultra Music Publishing forms strategic alliance with Warner Chappell". www.musicweek.com. Retrieved 2024-06-11.
  25. ^ "James Arthur sued for copyright infringement by The Script". NME. 2018-05-22. Retrieved 2024-06-11.