Kris Allen Signs a Publishing Deal with Universal Music

By On 04/15/2010 · 83 Comments · In American Idol, Kris Allen

Congrats to Kris Allen! He just signed a publishing deal with Universal Music Publishing Publishing group. The press release:

LOS ANGELES, April 15 /PRNewswire/ — Universal Music Publishing Group (UMPG) today announced the signing of an exclusive world-wide publishing agreement with American Idol winner Kris Allen. The publishing deal encompasses Kris Allen’s self-titled album as well as future works during the term of the agreement.

“I look forward to a long and prosperous relationship with Monti Olson and the creative staff at Universal Music Publishing Group,” said Kris Allen.

“I am proud that a songwriter of Kris’ caliber would choose to make Universal Music Publishing Group his home. I look forward to the future with Kris,” said Monti Olson, Senior Vice President, A&R, Universal Music Publishing Group.

Kris Allen’s post-Idol self-titled album was released in November 2009 through Jive Records, hitting Top 20 on the Billboard 200 and Top 10 on Top Digital Albums. Kris collaborated with UMPG’s The Script on his first single “Live Like We’re Dying” and “Written All Over My Face.”

Other Idols such as Elliott Yamin (here) and David Cook (here) and Jason Castro (here) have signed similar deals in the past…

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  • Brisblondie

    Congrats Kris! This is very nice to hear.

  • BeckyMD

    Congs to Kris!!

    Kris collaborated with UMPG’s The Script on his first single “Live Like We’re Dying” and “Written All Over My Face.”

    i feel lol about this though. it implies more credits to Kris than he deserves (imo) on the composing of LLWD. (pls don’t shoot me. LLWD is a great hit and is selling)

  • jayem

    congrats to kris! sounds like good news.

    maybe i’m living under a rock but what does this exactly mean? haha

  • sunny2

    Congratulations Kris,it’s nice to see great things happen to great people. See you in the Bahamas Saturday!!!

  • vanjess38

    Congrats to Kris. So happy for him.

  • jmom376

    Congratulations Kris!

    Have fun Sunny!

  • mimi

    Yay Kris! Is it possible that this is the “kink” that needed to be worked out prior to releasing single #2? Maybe Kris has a co-write on the song?

  • Eileen99

    This sounds like great news, congratulations to Kris!

    Which reminds me, I’d like to know more about his recent writing session with Kate Voegele…

  • JR Labrador

    Yay Kris! Is it possible that this is the “kink” that needed to be worked out prior to releasing single #2? Maybe Kris has a co-write on the song?

    Please let this be true.

  • babybelle32

    Congratulations to Kris. I look forward to hearing his music in movies, on TV shows, more commercials, etc.

  • jinxx315

    Wow they should have had Kris on AI last night after reading this.

  • Junior

    For those of us not in the know, what exactly does this mean? Is he still with Jive?

  • ksgirlfordc

    This means that Kris will receive royalties off of the music. When artist, a movie soundtrack or TV or radio uses their music, they get a royalty. Much like Raine Maida, or any of the collaborators on any of the idol records (who get a cowrite) they make royalties. This can last for the songwriters lifetime, so this is an income that keeps on giving.

  • hoosiermama

    This is a huge publishing company that has many big-time artists–U2, Mary J Blige, Coldplay, etc. I hope Kris, as a newby in the business, will still get the attention he will need to safeguard and promote his catalog. But great that this important step is being taken…so congratulations, Kris!

    mimi–I like the way you think! I guess time will tell if you’re right?!

  • Junior

    Interesting. I would have thought royalties were a given when your music is used.

    Regardless, this is awesome news!

  • ksgirlfordc

    Sorry, edit wouldn’t let me add this.

    This is why it is so important for songwriters to get publishing deals (David Cook with Cherry Lane etc.) Congrats to Kris. This is a step in the right direction to become an artist who will be around for a long time.

  • ilovekrisallen39

    Yeah Junior his still with Jive.I don’t really understand much of this. Just hearing some people are tweeter talking about it.Sounds like it’s great news for Kris am so happy for him.I hope your right mimi and maybe now well get news about the single pretty soon.I really hope it’s AWM.

  • ksgirlfordc

    Junior:
    04/15/2010 at 3:46 pm
    Interesting. I would have thought royalties were a given when your music is used.

    That’s what I said.

  • BeckyMD

    Wow they should have had Kris on AI last night after reading this.

    I agree. Especially the chop this year is leaning to singer-songwriter type.

  • ilovekrisallen39

    Since AWM is being used for the Ford Commerical,Does this deal work with that. Or not since they used it before Kris signed with this company. I know that other stations have been playing it more during commericals.This is just so neat for Kris.

  • Junior

    ksgirlfordc:

    I guess I’m still not understanding then. You said it means Kris will get royalties, and I always thought royalties were a given.

    If he would get royalties anyway, then what is the importance of a publishing deal?

  • leome

    If he would get royalties anyway, then what is the importance of a publishing deal?

    Because now he has someone controlling it and see where his music is used, but most of all they’ll try to shop around his songs to be used in different places and also to other singers who are looking for songs.

    I think most idols sign with Univerl, Cook and Jordin are with CherryLane.

  • BeckyMD

    i think it’s a recognition of Kris’ song writing ability. and secondly a larger company can better represents for a writer’s benefit in negotiating contracts and collecting loyalties.

  • BeckyMD

    most of all they’ll try to shop around his songs to be used in different places and also to other singers who are looking for songs.

    exhibit 1 DWTS

    Managed by Stirling McIlwaine, Kris Allen joins UMPG’s successful roster of artists including past Idol contestants the multi-platinum Chris Daughtry and new signing Jason Castro.

    one more thing Daughtry and Kris are in similar.

  • Junior

    Ok, that makes sense, thanks leome.

  • Mtlfan

    congrats to Kris!!! this is a nice milestone!!

    I guess he was receiving royalties from Ford using AWM prior to that?

  • sr4mjc

    Great job Kris!

  • MrsB

    Congratulations Kris!!!…………oooh what a great threesome from AI to join in the ranks of too!!

    I’ve always pictured Kris doing more writing & behind the scenes kind of stuff ….he has a great ear for music, period, and I think this is just the start of great things to come for him. Just a feeling I’ve had on the vibes I picked up from the show last season & this summer. Can’t really put my finger on it but I sense it big time!!!

  • standtotheright

    If he would get royalties anyway, then what is the importance of a publishing deal?

    Beyond what leome said, it’s probably a co-publishing deal. Anyone on a Sony label can get a standard publishing deal through Sony/ATV, essentially meaning that a writer’s songwriting royalties are split 50-50 between the writer and the publisher. (In a situation with co-writers, each of whom might have different publishers, the share of royalties is split and then each of them shares with their respective publisher.)

    What KA has now is a situation where UMPG is giving up half their share, so the split is now 75-25 for royalties. They do this because they expect enough to come from leveraging their contacts and licensing his songs so that they will all make more money in the end.

  • http://mjsbigblog.com/luvadamlamberts-american-idol-tour-2009-washington-dc-re-cap.htm luvadamlambert

    OMK Good job Kristopher!!

  • BeckyMD

    What KA has now is a situation where UMPG is giving up half their share, so the split is now 75-25 for royalties. They do this because they expect enough to come from leveraging their contacts and licensing his songs so that they will all make more money in the end.

    any source of this?

  • Truthiness

    Well cool beans for Kris.

    Great news for him.

  • jayem

    on a side note, i’ve noticed that “everybody wants to rule the world” has been getting some airplay on radio. coincidence perhaps?

  • standtotheright

    any source of this?

    Here’s the general description of co-publishing

    Here’s another UMPG listed writer, Adam Levy, describing his co-publishing contract.

    If you want a citation for KA, I don’t have one, which is why I said “probably.” But it’s common, and the most logical reason why he would sign a new publishing deal.

  • MrsB

    jayem – no kidding….airplay on radio in what city?

    Oh man, all these theories………….. :)

  • cher

    Excellent news for Kris. Do they also do book publishing if he decided to write a biography? Or is primarily music stuff?

  • http://mjsbigblog.com/luvadamlamberts-american-idol-tour-2009-washington-dc-re-cap.htm luvadamlambert

    Sorry to be a retard but what exactly is a publishing deal?

  • standtotheright

    luv, look at the links I just posted.

    Basically, UMPG is going to be responsible for collecting songwriter royalties for KA’s songs, and for helping him find new opportunities to license them elsewhere.

    It’s different from mechanical royalties for buying his performances. He gets those through the record label.

    ETA: BeckyMD, a lot of acts that start out as indies (and some that don’t) self-publish their songs because they want to protect themselves. If an artist gets a song used for a TV show (and some music directors pride themselves on finding indie acts), then they would need a publishing “face” to collect their royalties. Then, later, they keep that company structure, but license through to the bigger one (Cherry Lane, UPMG, etc.) If they get a different publishing agreement down the line, they will still have their initial “publishing company.”

  • BeckyMD

    Here’s the general description of co-publishing

    Here’s another UPMG listed writer, Adam Levy, describing his co-publishing contract.

    If you want a citation for KA, I don’t have one, which is why I said “probably.” But it’s common, and the most logical reason why he would sign a new publishing deal.

    thanks for the info. altho “co-publishing” is not mentioned in The press release, since co-publishing deal is “perhaps the most common publishing agreement” (wiki), i guess it’s the deal Kris got. good for him.

    iirc, KATA is published by Kris Allen publishing group or company. Cook, Kelly C etc have funny name publishing houses too. i wonder what are those for.

  • mmb

    a publishiing deal is in some ways like having an agent for your songs. Generally the artist assigns his/her copyrights in some of all of their catalog to the publisher and negotiates a royalty split with the publisher. the publisher then tries to exploit the catalog by placing the songs in film, tv, commercials, musicals, having other artists record them etc. In exchange for their efforts the publisher keeps a percentage of the royalties. Sometimes the artist gets an advance from the publisher which is then repaid thru the artists share of the royalties.

  • mmb

    iirc, KATA is published by Kris Allen publishing group or company. Cook, Kelly C etc have funny name publishing houses too. i wonder what are those for

    .

    those are generally legal entities set up to protect and exploit the publishing rights of those artists

  • jayem

    mrsb – i’ve heard it twice in the past two days from 104.3MYFM, the huge HAC station in Los Angeles. they do love them some kris!

  • MrsB

    a huge HAC station in Los Angeles……………..music to my ears!!!!!!!!!!! It’s alright with me baby! :)

  • sunny2

    Well Cook’s publishing deal is working, Nbc used his song during the Olympics. I’d start watching Grey’s Anatomy again if I knew they where going to use one of Kris’ angsty songs.

  • babybelle32

    I’ve always pictured Kris doing more writing & behind the scenes kind of stuff ….he has a great ear for music, period, and I think this is just the start of great things to come for him. Just a feeling I’ve had on the vibes I picked up from the show last season & this summer. Can’t really put my finger on it but I sense it big time!!!

    There’s no reason why he can’t write songs for himself and others and continue to sing. I lost count of the number of co-writes that Daughtry had this year.

    Jim Cantiello posted a MTV video from last year, where some of his co-workers and boss came up with song ideas for the season 8 people, early on during the songs from the year that you were born week. Jim’s boss called Kris an artist, and it made me think back to when I first realized that this guy could do more than sing. For me it was Motown week, which I think was just the second week of the finals, based on the slight changes that he made to his song, I knew that he was probably a songwriter. This is something that will be as profitable for him as his singing is.

  • Seeker

    Great news. Congrats Kris Allen.

  • MrsB

    babybelle32 I totally agree about doing both! Kris is very high energy and never stops with the guitar so during his down time from touring he could get a lot of writing, networking and wheeling & dealing done. He’s made an impression on a lot of peeps so I see him fitting in quite well working with others, including (but not limited to) both Jim C and Daughtry which you mentioned in your post.

    Coincidentally SMAYA and the Idolin60seconds that featured Kris are two great Kris collabs for me. Love them both!

  • http://MJO judes

    This sounds really good for Kris. Thanks everyone for the explanations. Sounds like this is really setting up Kris for the future.

  • Masieta

    Great news for Kris and his fans – Love that the deal includes his album – which means to me that they recognized its unrealized potential and plan to do something about it. Yay!!.

  • http://doeeye.wordpress.com/ doeeye

    Way to go Kris, really exciting watching his career thus far and he is just beginning. His radio gigs this week have been fantastic! It is nice to have people that have got your back, so this is fantastic!

  • carmine2008

    I am proud that a songwriter of Kris’ caliber would choose to make Universal Music Publishing Group his home. I look forward to the future with Kris

    Finally, someone who recognizes Kris’ talent. :)

  • MrsB

    Ditto carmine2008 & I especially like to see it in print!!

    Thanks for adding the pic MJ – it’s so yummy! :)

  • http://mjsbigblog.com/luvadamlamberts-american-idol-tour-2009-washington-dc-re-cap.htm luvadamlambert

    Thanks stand to the right :)
    That pic of Kris makes him like kinda like elliot…kris looks good in that picture..

  • dhunken

    Ok If this has been said sorry and also my apologies for being so shallow but damn Kris looks good in that pic MJ posted……oh and congrats to him for the deal…..

    oh I see I am not the only one that the pic has entranced. ;-)

  • Suzanne

    yay for Kris.

    Now . . . where’s that next single?

  • Laury

    Excellent! Congrats Kris for this achievement!!!!!!

    And yes dhunken kris looks reallllllllly good on this pic :)

  • Mtlfan

    I am proud that a songwriter of Kris’ caliber would choose to make Universal Music Publishing Group his home. I look forward to the future with Kris

    yes me too I’m so glad of this official statement recognizing Kris’s talent!!!

    And yes he’s looking dreamy hot on this pic!!! :D

  • iluvai

    That’s the best picture I have ever seen of Kris. Now I see why all of his fans are enthralled. Very cute.

  • cookcricket

    LOL, honestly there are very few pictures these days of Kris where I don’t go, ‘gulp’, ‘sigh’. :D This is definitely a goody though!

    Congratulations Kris on the publishing deal!!! I love what UMPG had to say about him!!! This is just one more step in his lasting career in the music industry. Yay!

  • Ratna12

    Congratulations Kris !!

    Lady A show setlist: CSA, Heartless/GP, Is It Over, Red Guitar, The Truth, Alright With Me, LLWD, Come Together

    h20convo: No hat. hair was styled a bit but now a bit mussed from playing & jumping around

    summerdaze_ : A cute porcupine :D
    17 minutes ago via Echofon

    tiffanyrinehart: I just fell in love with @KrisAllen. He opened for lady antebellum and was amazing!
    less than a minute ago via Tweetie

    h20convo: ahhh @krisallen and @krisallenband just killed it at the wiltern. soooo good!
    2 minutes ago via mobile web

    HEYjenniffer: I’m in love! Kris allen is officially my new favorite… Or at least for now (:
    2 minutes ago via UberTwitter

    http://twitter.com/krinjalists/april15-withladya-in-la

  • Ratna12

    Kris at Lady Antebellum

    http://twitpic.com/1fwpz4

  • ilovekrisallen39

    Ratna12 he sure was getting alot of love from that crowd,saw two tweets but same guy that was a jerk but the rest were great. Hope we get video’s loved that it’s the whole band again.I so missed them all together.

  • ilovekrisallen39

    Ratna12 I love this tweet, Lol my bff is a tinhatter: Is he still married? Is he gunna get divorced soon? I mean…they are gunna be divorce. I LOVE HER and another one My bff liked tt the best. Said “he’s come a long way since idol, really has” :)

  • ilovekrisallen39
  • cookcricket

    OH GOOD! I came here to see if there was any word yet on the Lady A. concert and I see there are some things posted. Off to look at some pics and comments. Thanks all! :D

  • cookcricket

    HEYjenniffer: I’m in love! Kris allen is officially my new favorite… Or at least for now (:
    2 minutes ago via UberTwitter

    tiffanyrinehart: I just fell in love with @KrisAllen. He opened for lady antebellum and was amazing!
    less than a minute ago via Tweetie

    Yeah!!! Those are the comments I love!!!

    ETA: Hoping for some good vids!

  • Ratna12

    I like this one. I guess not everybody knew about Kris being there.
    No one watched If I Can Dream ?? :)

    h20convo: no one really knew kris was gonna be here, and when he came out the girls in front of me lost their shit!

    krinja_signal Yay! RT @summerdaze_: Aw, they (L A) gave Kris a shoutout <3
    42 minutes ago via Echofon

    jakelopez: @KrisAllen just finished playing. He was f-ing AWESOME!!! Got a video of “Alright With Me” too!
    about 1 hour ago via UberTwitter

    benton_whatsup: Kris, stop being so hot.

    YAY, somebody got a video !!

  • Ratna12

    Didi !!
    From Facebook: Didi Benami: Going to see Lady Antebellum and Kris Allen tonight :) Cool Beans

    We do have an Atlantis list but keeping it locked until Saturday. Tonight’s: http://twitter.com/krinjalists/april15-withladya-in-la
    about 14 hours ago via web

    So we can follow on Saturday. I have to figure out what time zone The Bahamas is and what time the show starts.

  • Ratna12

    ilovekrisallen39:
    04/16/2010 at 12:06 am
    he sure was getting alot of love from that crowd,saw two tweets but same guy that was a jerk but the rest were great. Hope we get video’s loved that it’s the whole band again.I so missed them all together.

    Yes, I wish that he sang SMAYA with the band, but I guess the whole band did not have time to rehearse that song because Kris was so busy this past week. SMAYA is such a pretty song that the Lady A fans sure were going to enjoy that one.

  • ilovekrisallen39

    Radio station 101.3 has stuff on there website from when Kris was on there the other day link @thekirsten Complete [KA] audio from the Star 101.3 show! http://tinyurl.com/KrisIdol. This is when Kris talks about BNS,and other things in between songs. Lady A is doing Hey Jude and Kris is out there singing to.

  • ilovekrisallen39

    Omg i got hey jude w/ kris & lady antebellum omgggggg, Best encore ever!!!!!! Josh Groban and then KRIS!!!!!!

  • ilovekrisallen39
  • jmaster
  • cookcricket

    Oh I hope there is vid of Kris sing Hey Judy w/ Lady A.!!! BTW, is he wearing CB boots? :D

    ETA: Sounds like he got a lot of love tonight! Woot!!
    EETA: Looking forward to seeing/hearing more about the concert w/ Lady A. Night all!!

  • Ratna12

    ilovekrisallen39:
    04/16/2010 at 1:28 am
    Omg i got hey jude w/ kris & lady antebellum omgggggg, Best encore ever!!!!!! Josh Groban and then KRIS!!!!!!

    wow !! How great is that for Kris ? He loves “Need You Now” for weeks and now he sings with that group. He must be pinching himself. I’m so happy for him. Somebody HAD to have a video on that one.

    And he looks so handsome on this pic – http://twitpic.com/1fxjow

    Edit: Just saw the above pic again and the person right in front of Kris was holding a camera ; hopefully videotaped it.

  • Ratna12

    Hey Jude !!

    Lady A and Kris – partial

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q2R8sgDTZHw

    Come Together – partial

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fBzJe-s-E9M

    Edit: Well, there were plenty of cameras, but whether or not they all were saving the batteries for Lady A – who knows ?
    I hope that there were Kris fans there. I’m sure a full video of the finale w/ Kris will turn up though.

  • Seeker

    OMG!!!!!!! RATNA !!! THANKYOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    ETA: That was SOOOOOOOOOOOOO EFFING AWESOME!!!! I LOVE that GUY!!! Awww He soooo tiny & squishable!SQuEeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!
    Man! he got alot love… boy’s earned it!

  • Ratna12

    Hey Jude – close up – Kris !!

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hjzr3CL7BOo

    “Hey Jude” and the rest of tonight’s videos will be here http://www.youtube.com/elvenprodigy

    Close up photo – Kris hair.

    http://twitpic.com/1fy010, http://twitpic.com/1fxzij, http://twitpic.com/1fxyqx, http://twitpic.com/1fxxnz
    *
    Nice Tweet:

    ladyantebellum: Los Angeles we love you!!! Show was beyond words tonight. Huge thanks to the talented @KrisAllen and @JoshGroban for joining us on stage!!
    about 2 hours ago via Echofon

    HEYjenniffer: @ladyantebellum was amazing but @KrisAllen pretty much won me over!
    about 3 hours ago via UberTwitter

    *
    Edit: I’m soooo happy for Kris. The whole band hugged him.

    You are loved, Kris ! :)

  • Ratna12

    OK, on twitter:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hjzr3CL7BOo

    See minutes 3.52. O God, if it is true. He’ll never live this down.
    I replayed it 4X, still don’t know.

    *
    okayviv: I cannot even. He zipped up his fly during hey jude. WHAT ARE U KRIS ALLEN.
    about 4 hours ago via TinyTwitter

    h20convo: omfg kris came in to sing hey jude in 2nd verse w lady a. holy fuck dead
    about 4 hours ago via mobile web

    okayviv: HAHAHA KRIS HAD. HIS. FLY. DOWN.
    about 4 hours ago via TinyTwitter

  • Ratna12

    Hey Jude – great close up video !!

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dxs2k42A9aA

  • cookcricket

    Hey Jude – great close up video !!

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dxs2k42A9aA

    That was pretty epic!! Wow!!! :D

  • tripp_ncwy

    I tweeted Chris Sligh and asked him if Kris’s UMPG deal was good for Kris and he actually replied.

    ChrisSligh yes. Great company. That is my publisher, too. Though I’m sure his deal is much bigger than mine.

  • Ratna12

    tripp_ncwy:
    04/17/2010 at 12:33 am
    I tweeted Chris Sligh and asked him if Kris’s UMPG deal was good for Kris and he actually replied.

    ChrisSligh yes. Great company. That is my publisher, too. Though I’m sure his deal is much bigger than mine.

    I did not know that deals can be different for diff artist.

    Anyway, I’m sure this thread is dead already, but I’m thinking of Sir Paul McCartney and some of the Beatles catalog that is owned by Michael Jackson. So, if the song is on the radio, or in a TV ad, etc, who got paid the royalties ? Paul or Michael or both. I know that for years Paul was trying to buy the catalog back, but now is too expensive. Who knows back then that his songs are going to be timeless. I hope that Kris won’t make the same mistake.