UMPG Renews Exclusive Global Publishing
Agreement With 5X GRAMMY® Award Winner, BMI Songwriter of the Year,
Multi-platinum Artist Mariah Carey
UMPG to Represent Carey's Entire Catalog Along With New Album E=MC2
Los Angeles, CA (April 01, 2008) - David Renzer, Chairman & CEO, Universal Music Publishing Group (UMPG) today announced the renewal of world-renowned, five time Grammy® award winner, multi-platinum artist Mariah Carey, to an exclusive, worldwide publishing agreement. Through the long-term relationship between UMPG, the world's leading music publishing company, and Mariah Carey, one of the most popular global artists, the company will continue to publish Carey's extensive catalog and future works for the world. On the heels of renewing her deal with UMPG, Mariah Carey will release her new highly anticipated album E=MC2.
Mariah Carey is an award-winning superstar with cumulative total sales of her albums, singles and long-form videos in excess of 81-times platinum in the U.S. alone and 156 million worldwide, making her the top-selling female artist in history. With a record 17 No. 1 singles - more than any female artist of the past century - five GRAMMY® Awards, BMI Songwriter of the Year and Song of the Year recipient, eight American Music Awards, Billboard magazine's "Artist of the Decade Award," and the World Music Award as World's "Best Selling Female Artist of the Millennium" - Mariah Carey's ongoing career remains an unparalleled success story in the history of contemporary popular music. Upon making the announcement Renzer commented, "Mariah Carey is well known for her incredible voice, but we also celebrate her incredible strength as a songwriter and the fact that she has co-written most of her best known songs. We're honored that she has agreed to renew her working relationship with UMPG and we look forward to continuing to promote her amazing and wonderful body of work globally."
Mariah Carey secured her place as the No. 1 most successful female artist of all time as "Don't Forget About Us" became her 17th song to top the Billboard Hot 100. This positions Mariah as the only artist in contention to surpass The Beatles (with 20 No. 1's) and Elvis Presley (18 No. 1's) in the modern era. With 77 total weeks of No.1 hits since 1990, Mariah also ranks 2nd only to Elvis, with 80 weeks.
Mariah releases her 11th studio album E=MC2 on April 15th, following the first single "Touch My Body," which debuted worldwide February 12th and is currently No. 1 on the Digital Songs chart. This highly anticipated album boasts songs all co-written by Mariah along with a variety of hit producers including UMPG's Manuel Seal, Jermaine Dupri, and many others. E=MC2 is the follow up to her 2005 classic The Emancipation of Mimi LP (Island/Def Jam) under the auspices of L.A Reid and the management of Benny Medina at Handprint Entertainment which has since passed 10x platinum, and won three GRAMMY® awards.
About Universal Music Publishing Group
Universal Music Publishing Group (UMPG) is the industry's leading global music publishing operation and is part of Universal Music Group. UMPG represents music in every genre from many of the world's top songwriters and catalogs including U2, Elton John, Bernie Taupin, 50 Cent, Mariah Carey, R. Kelly, Coldplay, Nelly, Juan Gabriel, Ciara, Dave Grohl, Prince, Justin Timberlake, Maroon 5, Mary J. Blige, Beastie Boys, The Clash, The Sex Pistols, Gloria and Emilio Estefan, Paul Simon, Henry Mancini, Christina Aguilera and Linkin Park, among many others. UMPG is also a global leader in the areas of Production Music, Christian and Classical Music. For more information, visit: www.umusicpub.com.
Source: MariahCarey.com
Source: Sly
Mariah Carey's Single-Packed New Disc Could Put Her In Elite Company
Albert Einstein created E=MC2 as the formula to express his law of conservation of energy. Mariah Carey, needless to say, has a different interpretation.
On a recent Monday morning, she flew the red-eye from New York to Los Angeles, stopped by Ryan Seacrest's morning radio show to chat, recorded a background vocal track for the song "I Stay in Love" for her upcoming album, then went through hair and makeup and recorded a video for Wal-Mart's "Soundcheck" series, which will be used as bonus footage online and played in stores.
By the time all of this was done, it was just past noon. Her afternoon consisted of another radio interview on rhythmic KPWR (Power 106) Los Angeles, and then a return to the studio at night to work on mastering the album.
For Carey, "E=MC2"-due April 15 via Island Def Jam-is the representation of her formula for success, and it's one that requires an extreme expenditure of energy.
"It becomes nothing other than living for the marketing of the record," Carey's manager Benny Medina says.
After the comeback success of 2005's "The Emancipation of Mimi," 38-year-old Carey is in overdrive to make "E=MC2" another hit. A multitude of promotional plans-from mobile initiatives (see story, page 30) to copious TV appearances-are designed to appeal to fans of the classic balladeer Carey and her current hip-hop incarnation.
Sitting in a mixing room at Henson Recording Studios in Hollywood, Carey does seem a touch weary. But this is Mariah Carey, so you're immediately distracted by the blingy-to-the-max gold, platinum and diamond bracelets that extend almost to the elbows on each of her arms. Armed with a small Evian atomizer and soothing throat spray, Carey's a bit hoarse. But her excitement about the new album still bubbles through.
"There is some heavy stuff on some of the songs," she says. "I was trying to be as honest as I could-it's almost like it wasn't a choice for me. And then there are the songs that are still honest, but they're fun."
One of these fun songs is the first single, "Touch My Body," which has made its way up to No. 15 on the Billboard Hot 100-and that's without any digital sales of the song, which didn't start until March 25. (On the Hot 100 Airplay chart, it resides at No. 4 for the week that ended March 25.) It's a coy love song, made immeasurably appealing by a video featuring Carey as the bombshell fantasy of a geeky IT guy.
"Mariah loves to collaborate with writers and producers, and we had success with Tricky [Stewart] and The-Dream," Island Def Jam Music Group chairman Antonio "L.A." Reid says. "She went into the studio with them, we closed the door, and when we opened it up they had several ideas, one of which become 'Touch My Body.'"
While "Mimi" sold 5.8 million copies, according to Nielsen SoundScan, making it the top-selling album of 2005, and spawned the Hot 100 No. 1s "We Belong Together" and "Don't Forget About Us," Reid denies that this success puts added pressure on "E=MC2."
"We can't compete with the work we've already done," he says. "That represented that time period, and this represents this time period. We can't make records for how things were yesterday."
To its credit, like "Mimi," the new album is much more than a catchy leadoff single. The 14 tracks range from lung-busting ballads like "Bye Bye" and "I Wish You Well" to club-thumpers like "Migrate" and "Side Effects."
If "E=MC2" scores big, Carey could find herself in elite chart company. She's currently tied at No. 2 with Elvis Presley for the most Hot 100 No. 1s, with 17. The Beatles hold the crown with 20.
"I think it would be phenomenal," Reid says of the prospect of Carey besting the Beatles' record. "But the real goal is to create music the whole world can sing. And if we break records and set some milestones while doing that, that would be beautiful."
On "E=MC2," Carey teams again with "We Belong Together" and "Don't Forget About Us" producer Jermaine Dupri on the reggae-tinged "Cruise Control," which features Damian Marley; the ballad "Love Story"; and back-to-back love-gone-wrong odes "Last Kiss" and "Thanx 4 Nothin'."
"What I usually do is go to Atlanta to work with Jermaine, we write the song, then I take it and leave and do my vocals," Carey says. "Then we work on the mix together afterwards-that's how I work with everybody."
Carey started recording the album last summer in several houses she rented in Florida, as well as her favorite vacation spot in Capri. "There's something kind of important to me about going there when I'm working on an album," she says. "There's something about the Mediterranean that's amazing for my voice."
And Carey again called on her friends for an assist in front of the mic on "E=MC2," with Young Jeezy taking a turn on "Side Effects" and the omnipresent T-Pain featured on "Migrate." (He also backed Carey during her recent performance on "Saturday Night Live," when she debuted the song.)
Two versions of the "E=MC2" CD will be sold, a basic with a listed price point of $13.98 and a deluxe edition with a foldout poster and an iPod skin overlay for $21.95.
"There's all this research that shows people want more," Island president Steve Bartels says. "They're looking for more value and more things that come with it. With big artists, we know there is going to be initial demand for the music, but we want to provide consumers a choice."
For Carey, those consumers are across the map; she is the rare artist whose appeal spans the younger MTV crowd and the older VH1 demographic alike. "The beautiful thing about Mariah is her fan base," Island Def Jam senior VP of marketing Caron Veazey says. "She has fans from 12 to 70 years old. Some artists, as they grow, they don't garner new fans. She does."
For "E=MC2," Carey's strategy is to lure new fans with several big-ticket promotional appearances. She will be heavily involved with Fox's "American Idol" this year, appearing on the show's charity effort, "Idol Gives Back," and acting as a mentor/guest judge the week "E=MC2" comes out. "She loves working with developing artists, and she has such a body of work to pull from," Veazey says. "It was a perfect fit."
In addition, she recently filmed behind-the-scenes footage for MTV's "52/52," which will play during the release week for "E=MC2" as promotional spots on the channel-totaling 11 hours of exposure-as well as archived online and for wireless devices. Carey also performed at the premiere party for MTV's docu-soap "The Hills" at the end of March, with footage streamed the day after the event on mtv.com.
On April 16, BET will air an exclusive Carey performance, taped in early March, that showcases "E=MC2." In addition, Carey will make the traditional circuit of "The Oprah Winfrey Show," as well as morning and late-night talk shows in the weeks surrounding street date, according to label executives.
Internationally, Carey will visit Japan, Europe and the United Kingdom for promotional stops; in January, Reid held a listening party in London for press and label execs where tracks including "Migrate," "I'm That Chick," "Bye Bye" "O.O.C." and "Touch My Body" were played.
"They went nuts," Bartels recalls. "All our international divisions have now submitted these incredible plans-they want Mariah in their country. Some artists are great in certain territories-but she transcends the globe."
But despite all the work of the Carey brain trust to make the album a hit with the public, the most important aspect of "E=MC2" for the singer was that each song conveyed something private.
"I do feel like it's my responsibility," Carey says. "I was given a gift. I know that music comes from God. It got me through things before I was known to the world, before I was on the Billboard charts. Music healed me. Music helped me. It was important for me to express where I was coming from."
MARIAH CAREY Q&A
She May Be Ready For A Nap After Nonstop Promo, But Mariah Carey Is Poised To Soar All Over Again
With
the successs of "The Emancipation of Mimi" and this new album, it seems
that you've found a comfortable home at Island Def Jam.
I love
the fact that [Antonio "L.A." Reid] and I have the relationship that we
do. He was talking to me today, and he was like, "Yeah, I'm a
frustrated producer! I want to be a producer!" I'm like I think you're
not a frustrated producer--I think you're quite the accomplished
producer, but you happen to be excellent at doing lots of things." It's
just such a plus for me to be able to work with somebody who
understands music, who can sing something to me and I can sing it back
to him. We can go back and forth with concepts rather than just a
corporate person who doesn't relate to me on the same wavelength, like
an artist.
"E=MC2" crosses a lot of genres. There are a few
ballads, but there's definitely some hip-hop and even some
gospel-tinged songs and a bit of a reggae beat.
I'm really a
festive person, and that's what came across with the "Mimi" album. I
hate it when people are like (uses a dramatic voice): "She's taking a
new direction with hip-hop." I'm like, "Will you please freakin'
research?" I've been doing this for a long time -- working with
(writer-producer) Dave Hall on "Dreamlover," using the "Ain't No
Half-Steppin"' loop.
I think that it was Q-Tip -- he said this to me in '97 --that I was really the catalyst for so many of these artists who are now trying to infuse (songs with hip-hop). It was just digging in the crates with Dave Hall and coming up with, "Hey, let's use this loop!" And from then on, I did it anytime I could. The next was "Fantasy," which was a groundbreaking moment for me, the ability to be able to work with Puffy (Sean Combs).
Right now everything is kind of merged together because pop is such a nebulous format, in my opinion. You'll hear a hip-hop record next to sort of a rock-sounding pop beat, or a country song. Aretha Franklin can still have a hit -- look at "A Rose Is Still a Rose" -- it's just her talent is shining through. She can work with anybody at any time in her life. Same thing with Patti LaBelle and Luther (Vandross), God rest his soul, before he passed away. The true talent will always come through.
And
after the success of "We Belong Together," "Don't Forget About Us" --
co-produced by Bryan-Michael Cox -- and "Shake It Off" on "Mimi,"
you've teamed up with Jermaine Dupri again for several songs on "E=MC2."
JD
is the best. I love him, I really do. We have such similar influences.
It's funny because a lot of our favorite records from growing up are
really the same. Back in the day we did the (R&B) remix of "Always
Be My Baby." The original version was a hard track, if you listen to
the bass -- but it was very poppy on top. I knew JD could do it, even
though he hadn't really worked with somebody like me before. I knew he
was just incredibly talented. He's really just honed his skill as a
producer in so many ways. I'm a fan and a friend.
Do you ever think about surpassing the Beatles with their 20 No. 1s?
I
do, because people bring it up. (laughs) But it's not like I sit around
thinking about that type of stuff while I'm creating something. I did
write this record in terms of wanting it to be a lot of songs that
could potentially be singles, because people like that.
You write or co-write almost all your songs -- what's your process? What inspires you to write?
For
each album, I try to have a book that I write the whole thing in. It
started -- this was a long time ago. I don't have birthdays, I only
have anniversaries. (laughs) But actually, this was the last birthday
party I had ... I think it was my 21st birthday, even though I'm only
12. We had it in advance. (laughs) Cyndi Lauper came to the party, and
I've always been a big fan of hers since I was growing up. She gave me
this book, and I wound up writing the whole "Music Box" album in this
book, which I still have.
Jay-Z said something to me that was really interesting, and I don't even know if he really remembers this. He's known me for a long time, and he's like, "You need to use some of your phrases in your music." I have my own little slang that I make up and say stupid stuff just for laughs. (On) the song "O.O.C." -- that's a Swizz Beatz track -- it means, "Out of control." So me and my friends will say that to each other, like, "OK, you're a little O.O.C. right now, tone it on down." Da Brat, who's a really good, close friend of mine since we worked on "Always Be My Baby" -- we wrote the lyrics together, and it was so fun. By saying (sings), "I get so O.O.C./So out of control, baby," we could explain it.
When somebody was helping me type up the lyrics, and they wrote "Out of Control" in parenthesis (by the song title), I was like, "Get rid of that. It's 'O.O.C.'! Let them figure it out! It's not that tough! I say it in the next line!"
The "Touch My Body" video is hilarious.
Thank
you. That was a (director) Brett Ratner-and-me collabo. (laughs) I love
Brett because he is like me. If I'm eternally 12 -- because he's a
little bit more naughty than I am -- he's eternally 15. He has a great
sense of humor, obviously, and he knows that I have a sense of humor
and he feels that people don't recognize that about me. And I'll do
stuff that I'm totally joking and they're like (uses mean girl voice),
"Why is she doing that? Why is she doing the treadmill with her high
heels on?" I'm like, "It's a freakin' joke! It's 'Cribs'! Hello! It's a
freakin' joke!"
Have you thought about touring for this album?
It's
come up, and I'm probably going to do it, but I don't know exactly how
we're going to do it or when. I'm thinking probably September. But I
think it's important to tour with this album, because there are so many
songs that I really want to sing live, that I really enjoy. Fun songs,
like "I'm That Chick" or "O.O.C.," and then the ballads, of course. I
really want to do "I Wish You Well" and "I Stay in Love" and "Bye Bye."
And now that you're in promotional mode, does it ever get daunting?
I'm
totally ready for a nap. I'd love a nap ... It's a little tiring to
have this kind of schedule. As long as I'm straight up in promo mode,
it's cool, but I'm still doing little things on the record -- we're
mastering ... (But) I'm collaborative about it. I like to hear what
other people have to say. I wouldn't feel like an artist if I didn't. I
wouldn't feel like I was truly the architect of the record. And why do
it, then?
Source: MariahDaily.com
Here's a chance for both Madonna and Mariah fans to celebrate! When the latest Billboard Hot 100 singles chart is released on Wednesday, both pop divas will have reached new milestones. M & M are set to break two records set by Elvis Presley, making music history together on the same week! Thanks to its release as a digital single, Mimi's Touch My Body is expected to be the #1 single in America this coming week. It will be her 18th #1, and she will surpass Elvis as the artist with the most #1 hits. Meanwhile, Madge's 4 Minutes will jump into the Top 10
this week and she will beat Elvis as the artist with the most Top 10
hits in music history. It will be her 37th !!! That is INSANE!!!! So many artists wish they could have a Top 10 single, and Madonna is on her way to #37!!!!!!!! ARTISTS WITH THE MOST TOP 10 SINGLES (Before 4 Minutes) Congrats to both Madonna and Mariah!!!!! Source: PerezHilton.com
1. Elvis Presley (36)
1. Madonna (36)
3. The Beatles (34)
4. Stevie Wonder (28)
4. Michael Jackson (28)
Mariah Carey, the biggest selling female artist of all time, returns with the most eagerly anticipated album of the year, E=MC2. UK fans, click here to pre-order yours now!
The lead single "Touch My Body", written and produced by Mariah Carey and The-Dream, is available to download NOW, and in stores on Monday. Get it DRM-free for 50p!
Mariah will be touching down in the UK on 1st April, when she'll be doing an exclusive signing of her new single in Selfridges, Oxford St at 5pm. She'll also be hosting the Friday Night Project and appearing on the Paul O'Grady Show on April 4th. Keep checking www.mariahcarey.com for updates.
Source: MariahCarey.com
Due to the overwhelming number of fans who have emailed MariahCarey.com and various other fan sites around the world, concerned that the first appearance by Mariah Carey in Europe in support of E=MC2 was closed to the public and open only to the press, Mariahcarey.com would like to invite all fans and fan club members to create their best hand held signs in support of E=MC2 and come down to the Alexander III bridge in Paris at 5:30pm and holler out for Mariah.
The three fans that come up with the most creative signs will be selected from the red carpet, invited into the press conference and will be given the chance to ask Mariah one of the first three questions at the event. So grab your markers, sparkle and best boa and we look forward to seeing you on Monday, March 31 at 5:30pm at the Alexandre III bridge in central Paris.
The only requirement is that the signs must be hand made. Be creative and show your support! See you there.
Source: MariahCarey.com
On a recent Monday morning, Mariah Carey flew the red-eye from New York to Los Angeles, stopped by Ryan Seacrest's morning radio show to chat, recorded a background vocal track for the song "I Stay in Love" for her upcoming album, then recorded a video for Wal-Mart's "Soundcheck" series, which will be used as bonus footage online and played in stores.
By the time all of this was done, it was just past noon. Her afternoon consisted of another radio interview, and in the evening she returned to the studio to work on mastering the album, "E=MC2" -- due April 15 via Island Def Jam.
If "E=MC2" scores big, Carey could find herself in elite chart company. She's currently tied at No. 2 with Elvis Presley for the most Hot 100 No. 1 singles, with 17. The Beatles hold the crown with 20.
The busy singer recently spoke with Billboard about the new album.
Q: "E=MC2" crosses a lot of genres. There are a few ballads, but there's definitely some hip-hop and even some gospel-tinged songs and a bit of a reggae beat.
Mariah Carey: I'm really a festive person, and that's what came across with the "Mimi" album. I hate it when people are like (uses a dramatic voice): "She's taking a new direction with hip-hop." I'm like, "Will you please freakin' research?" I've been doing this for a long time -- working with (writer-producer) Dave Hall on "Dreamlover," using the "Ain't No Half-Steppin'" loop.
I think that it was Q-Tip -- he said this to me in '97 --that I was really the catalyst for so many of these artists who are now trying to infuse (songs with hip-hop). It was just digging in the crates with Dave Hall and coming up with, "Hey, let's use this loop!" And from then on, I did it anytime I could. The next was "Fantasy," which was a groundbreaking moment for me, the ability to be able to work with Puffy (Sean Combs).
Right now everything is kind of merged together because pop is such a nebulous format, in my opinion. You'll hear a hip-hop record next to sort of a rock-sounding pop beat, or a country song. Aretha Franklin can still have a hit -- look at "A Rose Is Still a Rose" -- it's just her talent is shining through. She can work with anybody at any time in her life. Same thing with Patti LaBelle and Luther (Vandross), God rest his soul, before he passed away. The true talent will always come through.Q: And after the success of "We Belong Together," "Don't Forget About Us" -- co-produced by Bryan-Michael Cox -- and "Shake It Off" on "Mimi," you've teamed up with Jermaine Dupri again for several songs on "E=MC2."
Carey: JD is the best. I love him, I really do. We have such similar influences. It's funny because a lot of our favorite records from growing up are really the same. Back in the day we did the (R&B) remix of "Always Be My Baby." The original version was a hard track, if you listen to the bass -- but it was very poppy on top. I knew JD could do it, even though he hadn't really worked with somebody like me before. I knew he was just incredibly talented. He's really just honed his skill as a producer in so many ways. I'm a fan and a friend.
Q: Do you ever think about surpassing the Beatles with their 20 No. 1s?
Carey: I do, because people bring it up. (laughs) But it's not like I sit around thinking about that type of stuff while I'm creating something. I did write this record in terms of wanting it to be a lot of songs that could potentially be singles, because people like that.
Q: You write or co-write almost all your songs -- what's your process? What inspires you to write?
Carey: For each album, I try to have a book that I write the whole thing in. It started -- this was a long time ago. I don't have birthdays, I only have anniversaries. (laughs) But actually, this was the last birthday party I had ... I think it was my 21st birthday, even though I'm only 12. We had it in advance. (laughs) Cyndi Lauper came to the party, and I've always been a big fan of hers since I was growing up. She gave me this book, and I wound up writing the whole "Music Box" album in this book, which I still have.
Jay-Z said something to me that was really interesting, and I don't even know if he really remembers this. He's known me for a long time, and he's like, "You need to use some of your phrases in your music." I have my own little slang that I make up and say stupid stuff just for laughs. (On) the song "O.O.C." -- that's a Swizz Beatz track -- it means, "Out of control." So me and my friends will say that to each other, like, "OK, you're a little O.O.C. right now, tone it on down." Da Brat, who's a really good, close friend of mine since we worked on "Always Be My Baby" -- we wrote the lyrics together, and it was so fun. By saying (sings), "I get so O.O.C./So out of control, baby," we could explain it.
When somebody was helping me type up the lyrics, and they wrote "Out of Control" in parenthesis (by the song title), I was like, "Get rid of that. It's 'O.O.C.'! Let them figure it out! It's not that tough! I say it in the next line!"
Q: The "Touch My Body" video is hilarious.Carey: Thank you. That was a (director) Brett Ratner-and-me collabo. (laughs) I love Brett because he is like me. If I'm eternally 12 -- because he's a little bit more naughty than I am -- he's eternally 15. He has a great sense of humor, obviously, and he knows that I have a sense of humor and he feels that people don't recognize that about me. And I'll do stuff that I'm totally joking and they're like (uses mean girl voice), "Why is she doing that? Why is she doing the treadmill with her high heels on?" I'm like, "It's a freakin' joke! It's 'Cribs'! Hello! It's a freakin' joke!"
Q: Have you thought about touring for this album?
Carey: It's come up, and I'm probably going to do it, but I don't know exactly how we're going to do it or when. I'm thinking probably September. But I think it's important to tour with this album, because there are so many songs that I really want to sing live, that I really enjoy. Fun songs, like "I'm That Chick" or "O.O.C.," and then the ballads, of course. I really want to do "I Wish You Well" and "I Stay in Love" and "Bye Bye."
Q: And now that you're in promotional mode, does it ever get daunting?
Carey: I'm totally ready for a nap. I'd love a nap ... It's a little tiring to have this kind of schedule. As long as I'm straight up in promo mode, it's cool, but I'm still doing little things on the record -- we're mastering ... (But) I'm collaborative about it. I like to hear what other people have to say. I wouldn't feel like an artist if I didn't. I wouldn't feel like I was truly the architect of the record. And why do it, then?
Source: Reteurs / Billboard.com
Mariah is set to meet fans and sign copies of her latest single, 'Touch My Body', in the Selfridges department store in London on April 1.
She will be arriving through the front entrance of the store, situated on Oxford Street in the centre of the capital, at 4.55pm (GMT).
Mariah will be arriving in 'spectacular fashion' so don't miss it! NEW ALBUM E=MC2 IN UK STORES on April 14.
Source: MariahCarey.com
