Rolling Stones and Universal Extend Partnership

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Universal Music Group (UMG) and the Rolling Stones have what’s described as “an expansive worldwide agreement covering the band’s iconic recorded music and audio-visual catalogs, archival support, global merchandising and brand management.”

This “multi-faceted partnership,” continues the July 9 announcement, “marks the beginning of a new era of expanded collaboration between the Rolling Stones and UMG. With UMG, the band has a partner that complements and supports their global stature, with expertise and resources that enable the band to maximize their reach while underscoring their enduring cultural relevance across numerous forms of entertainment.”

Sir Lucian Grainge, Chairman and CEO of Universal Music Group, said in the announcement, “After a decade of working in partnership together, we are thrilled to expand and extend our relationship with the Rolling Stones. We look forward to bringing our expertise and passion to bear as we put our global organization to work on behalf of this iconic band who continue to create music and influence culture around the world.”

As part of the agreement, UMG will extend its position as the home for the Stones’ catalog, from 1971’s Sticky Fingers through to 2016’s Blue & Lonesome. UMG will continue to distribute the band’s recorded music catalog globally with future projects and reissues to be released through UMG’s labels and networks around the world.

Bravado, UMG’s brand-management and merchandise company, will handle global merchandising rights, retail licensing, brand management and e-commerce on behalf of the band, including their tongue logo.

At the same time, Bravado “will continue working closely with the band and management to identify new and innovative opportunities for creative collaboration within the worlds of art, fashion, retail, sport, lifestyle and touring merchandise to excite and inspire their millions of fans around the world,” says the announcement.

Eagle Rock, the UMG-owned producer and distributor of music programming for broadcast, DVD, Blu-ray, TV and digital media, has expanded its global distribution rights to the band’s extensive long-form audio visual catalog. As part of the agreement, Eagle Rock will also reissue several classic concert films from their archives including Atlanta (1989); Steel Wheels (1989-90); Voodoo Lounge (1994); Bridges to Babylon (1997-1998); Four Flicks (2002) and Bigger Bang (2005-2006).

The Stones and UMe recently released The Studio Albums Vinyl Collection 1971-2016, a new limited edition vinyl box set, featuring 15 albums across 20 LPs. It’s available to order here in the U.S. and here in the U.K.

UMG, according to the new announcement, will provide the Rolling Stones with archival support and dedicated space for the band’s physical media assets, musical instruments and equipment across the company’s ecosystem of vaults positioned around the world.

Universal Music Group has been home to the Rolling Stones since 2008. The Stones’ next move has not yet been confirmed. Following the release of 2016’s Blue & Lonesome, it was rumored that the Stones would release another collection of blues covers. Since then, however, speculation about a new studio album consisting of new Jagger-Richards compositions has been floated.

Watch the Stones perform “Brown Sugar” from Sticky Fingers live