Andrea Bocelli Signs Exclusive Global Partnership With Universal Music Group

NEW EXPANDED MULTI-DIMENSIONAL AGREEMENT TO FURTHER UNDERLINE HIS RECORD-BREAKING ACHIEVEMENTS AS TODAY’S MOST SUCCESSFUL CLASSICAL SINGER

UMG WILL SUPPORT THE ICONIC ITALIAN TENOR ACROSS FUTURE RECORDED MUSIC AND AUDIOVISUAL PROJECTS, MUSIC MERCHANDISING, SYNC AND BRAND PARTNERSHIPS WHILST CREATING NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR HIS HISTORIC CATALOG WORLDWIDE

Record-breaking tenor Andrea Bocelli, one of the world’s most celebrated singers, has today announced an exclusive and expanded global recording agreement with Universal Music Group (UMG), the world leader in music-based entertainment. The strategic worldwide partnership sees Bocelli signing directly to UMG for the first time, after more than 25 years of collaboration and marks the beginning of an expansive long-term multi-album deal, that will further solidify his position as today’s most successful and influential classical singer.

A global music icon and long-standing ambassador for Italian culture around the world, Andrea Bocelli has sold over 90 million albums to date and generated more than five billion streams. This new multi-dimensional agreement will include a series of recorded music and audiovisual projects, alongside branding services, synchronisation and music-related merchandising, and marks the beginning of a new era of collaboration with UMG and its frontline labels worldwide, and in particular, extending his long and enduring partnership with the team at Decca Records Group.

Bocelli’s new recording agreement significantly expands his historic relationship with Decca and UMG, which has distributed his albums for over a quarter of a century. Working closely with Andrea Bocelli and his management team at Almud and Maverick, UMG will leverage its unique combination of global reach, creative and commercial expertise, and renowned marketing and promotional support to ensure that both Bocelli’s future releases and his transcendent catalog continues to reach and introduce his music to new generations of fans around the world, creating new opportunities to further solidify his legacy as the world’s most beloved tenor.

In making the announcement, Andrea Bocelli said: “It is an exciting novelty, but also the confirmation of our solid and well-established collaborative relationship over the years. Fully joining the artist stable of the largest record company in the world is the culmination of a dream, but it is also a bit like returning home, because in UMG I have always found that family dimension that is ideal, even in the artistic field, to give the best of oneself ... This agreement represents a great honor for me, for Veronica, and perhaps even a little for all of Italy, which through my songs I will continue to celebrate with the world. With gratitude, I celebrate this new adventure, full of ideas, new projects and of course music.”

Sir Lucian Grainge, Chairman and CEO of Universal Music Group said: "For over two decades, I have had the privilege to work closely with Andrea. To expand and extend our long-term partnership with Andrea—an artist in the truest sense who is nothing less than a cultural icon—is a thrilling moment for me and for our teams around the world.  We look forward to putting the global organization to work on Andrea’s behalf, ensuring his new-music and brilliant catalog are enjoyed by his millions of fans and discovered by millions more.”

Maverick Management’s Scott Rodger said: “Together with Veronica Bocelli, Maverick and Almud, I’m proud to start this landmark chapter for Maestro Andrea Bocelli, the most important classical voice of our generation.  This unprecedented partnership has evolved from our deep-rooted relationship with the UMG family, building on the defining recording and live global successes that Andrea Bocelli has achieved throughout his career. We are united by our collective ambition and look forward to this new chapter and the iconic moments that Maestro Bocelli will undoubtedly create.

Michele Anthony, EVP, Universal Music Group said: “Andrea Bocelli is that rare artist who has the unique ability to transcend the barriers of language, geography and musical genre, to touch millions around the world with his inimitable voice and spirit. It has been an honor for us to work with Andrea and his team to continue to reach and inspire new audiences globally and constantly redefine the boundaries of classical music, even most recently with his historic performance from Milan’s Duomo cathedral during lockdown.”

Dickon Stainer, President and CEO of Global Classics & Jazz, Universal Music Group added: “In every corner of the world people have taken the unique artistry of Andrea Bocelli to their hearts. We look forward to working even more closely with Andrea on the next chapter of his extraordinary and inspiring musical journey.”

Decca Records Co-Managing Directors Laura Monks and Tom Lewis said: “It is such an honour to strengthen our relationship with Andrea Bocelli, an artist whose global resonance is unique and unmatched in this industry.”

In April 2020, Bocelli united millions around the world with his emotionally charged Music for Hope performance from the historic Duomo cathedral in Milan. His unforgettable performance ranks amongst the biggest musical live streams of all-time and with over 2.8 million peak concurrent viewers, it achieved the largest simultaneous audience for a classical live stream in YouTube history. The video received more than 28 million views from across the globe in its first 24 hours and over 42 million views to date.

Bocelli’s most recent studio album, 2020’s Believe, was also accompanied by another major live stream, Believe in Christmas, which became the most successful classical music live stream to date, selling more than 70,000 tickets to fans in 120 countries. In 2018, the tenor achieved further historic sales and streams on both sides of the Atlantic as he scored simultaneous No.1 positions for his album Sì on the Official UK and US Billboard charts. His most recent release, Concerto: One Night In Central Park, marked the tenth anniversary of his legendary New York concert – a star-studded show and landmark moment in his career. This year also marks the tenth anniversary of the Andrea Bocelli Foundation (ABF) which was set up in 2011 to empower people and communities in vulnerable situations.

Musically gifted from birth, Andrea Bocelli is one of the most renowned singers in modern history, performing at major international events including the Olympic Games, World Cup, UEFA European Championship and World Expos, as well as his own sell-out arena shows around the world. He has a Golden Globe, seven Classical BRITs and seven World Music Awards under his belt, plus six Grammy Award nominations, six Latin Grammy Award nominations a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. He has performed for four US Presidents, three Popes and the British Royal Family. He has also collaborated with a host of A-list stars including Luciano Pavarotti, Ariana Grande, Jennifer Lopez, Christina Aguilera, Ed Sheeran, Dua Lipa, Céline Dion, Tony Bennett and many more.