"Lionel Richie signs with Universal Music Publishing Group", announced the first official email we received about this deal.
"Universal Music Publishing Group signs global superstar Lionel Richie to exclusive, worldwide publishing agreement", declared the second email we received about this deal, somewhat more excitedly.
"We've only fucking gone and fucking signed Lionel fucking Richie to a motherfucking worldwide publishing deal", shouted the third email we received about this deal.
OK, I made one of those up. See if you can guess which one. There's a free toffee apple for the first person to spot it!
So, yes, Lionel Richie - a global superstar, remember - has signed with Universal Music Publishing Group - and it's an exclusive worldwide agreement. Richie has had a long-term partnership with Universal Music owned labels on the recordings side, and now the major gets to manage his songs too. I bet they're THRILLED about that.
"I am THRILLED", confirms UMPG boss Jody Gerson. "I have known Lionel personally for years and have always wanted to be his publisher. I am so happy the day has finally come. We will be the best publisher Lionel has ever had. My teams around the world couldn’t be more excited to work with his illustrious catalogue of hits, spanning many, many decades".
And Richie himself adds: "Having partnered with Universal Music as a recording artist for almost my entire career, joining the UMPG family as a songwriter feels like coming home. With their outstanding global team, I know my songs are in the best hands and I’m excited for what we can accomplish together".
By the way, no toffee apple for you. Because you're wrong. It wasn't the second headline I made up!