Universal Music Publishing Group captured the largest share of U.S. Airplay Share among the music publishers in fourth-quarter 2008, retaining the top spot for the third quarter in a row.
For the three month period ending Dec. 31, UMPG had a 17.25% share, strong enough to top the fourth-quarter Top 10 Publisher Airplay chart. UMPG was affiliated with the 32 tracks among the fourth quarter Top 100 airplay songs. The publishing company has a share of the No. 3 song, Ne-Yo’s “Miss Independent,” the No. 8 song T-Pain’s “Can’t Believe It” feat. Lil Wayne, and the No. 9 song Rihanna’s “Disturbia.”
UMPG have a publishing interest in a record-breaking 27 GRAMMY awards. UMPG writers and artists took home a record-breaking 27 GRAMMY awards, with multiple wins going to Ne-Yo, Coldplay, Adele, Mel Tillis, Rondor’s Gene Clark, and Rondor’s Al Green.
Highlights:
Ne-Yo has a publishing interest in four winning awards – two of his own and two via collaborations. Ne-Yo won Best R&B Song and Best Male R&B Vocal Performance for “Miss Independent”; and he has a publishing interest in Best R&B Album Jennifer Hudson – Jennifer Hudson and Best Contemporary R&B Album Growing Pains – Mary J. Blige. Ne-Yo led this year’s nominations with an interest in 12 nominations (6 for his own projects and an additional six as a collaborator).
Coldplay won three awards, including Song of the Year for “Viva La Vida”, Best Pop Performance By a Duo or Group with Vocals for “Viva La Vida” and Best Rock Album Viva La Vida Or Death And All His Friends. Coldplay received seven nominations.
Adele won Best New Artist and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance for “Chasing Pavements”
Nashville’s Mel Tillis and Rondor’s Gene Clark both have a publishing interest in the Album of the Year, Record of the Year and Best Contemporary Folk/Americana album via the Robert Plant and Alison Kraus album, Raising Sand.
Via Mel Tillis and Rondor’s Gene Clark, UMPG has four 100% owned songs on the Robert Plant and Alison Kraus project which won Record of the Year “Please Read the Letter”, Album of the Year, and Best Contemporary Folk/Americana Album (“Polly Come Home” and “Through the Morning, Through the Night” – 100% written by Rondor’s Gene Clark; “Please Read the Letter” – 100% via MGB writers Jimmy Page, Robert Plant, Stephen Jones, and Michael Pearson on behalf of Sons of Einion Ltd. and Succubus Music Ltd.; and “Stick With Me Baby” – 100% via Mel Tillis).
Rondor’s Al Green won for Best R&B Performance By a Duo or Group with Vocals for “Stay With Me (By the Sea)” – Al Green feat. John Legend and Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance “You’ve Got the Love I Need” – Al Green feat. UMPG’s Anthony Hamilton. UMPG’s Amir Thompson also has a publishing interest in these wins.
Other notable wins include Duffy – Best Vocal Album for Rockferry; Metallica (ex U.S.) – Best Metal Performance for “My Apocalypse”; Lil Wayne – Best Rap Album for Tha Carter III (via Edward Montilla, T-Pain, Babyface, Swizz Beatz, Andre Lyon, Marcello Valenzano, Infamous, Rondor’s Bobby Valentino, LaRon James); Kirk Franklin – Best Gospel Song for “Help Me Believe”; and Wisin y Yandel – Best Latin Urban Album for Los Extraterrestres.
The evening featured many performances by UMPG artists, including U2 performing “Get On Your Boots” the first single from the group’s new album, No Line on the Horizon, due for release next month); Coldplay collaborated with Jay-Z; Dave Grohl performed with Paul McCartney; Adele sang “Chasing Pavements”; and Justin Timberlake performed with Al Green.
