UMPG SIGNS UP SAVAN & SONNY'S S2 SONGS

Seen waiting for the next open booth at Norm’s are, from left, UMPG EVP, Head of A&R David Gray, S2 Songs’ Sonny Takhar, UMPG Chairman and CEO Jody Gerson, S2’s Savan Kotecha and UMPG Director of A&R Lillia Parsa.

Universal Music Publishing Group has inked a worldwide administration agreement with Savan Kotecha and Sonny Takhar’s new indie publishing company S2 Songs.

Kotecha and Takhar, CEO and Founder of KYN Entertainment and former Global President of Syco Music, issued a statement that read “It’s really great to be working again with Jody Gerson and David Gray who we have both known for most of our careers. We know our songwriters and producers will benefit from having Universal Music Publishing’s global muscle behind them.”

The company says it will focus on quality over quantity, ensuring each writer is provided with a focused and bespoke approach. Songwriter/producer Kotecha and Takhar have worked together for two decades and have generated numerous global hits.

Kotecha’s credits include Ariana Grande’s “God Is A Woman,” “No Tears Left to Cry” and “Breathing,” The Weeknd’s “Can’t Feel My Face” and One Direction’s “What Makes You Beautiful;” he has also has developed writers such as James Alan.

At Syco Music, Takhar worked with Simon Cowell in developing One Direction, Fifth Harmony, Susan Boyle and others.