Sony/ATV Music Publishing has signed Norwegian DJ, songwriter, recording artist and producer Alan Walker to a worldwide contract.
The deal for Walker was overseen by Sony/ATV’s pan-European A&R team, which works to develop songwriters from across Europe. Among the artists it has worked with so far are Avicii, Kygo and Martin Solveig.
The team is headed by Guy Moot, Sony/ATV UK managing director and president, European creative, who said: “This is a great signing for our European A&R team whose policy of working with the best of local talent and taking it international reflects the global music industry we operate in and has allowed countless acts to fully reach their worldwide potential. I am excited that Alan Walker will now be part of this setup. He is an amazing artist and surrounded by an incredibly professional team who we cannot wait to work with.”
Sony/ATV Music Publishing Scandinavia managing director Johnny Tennander, added: “We’re thrilled about this signing. Alan’s breakthrough has been incredible and he has taken huge steps as an artist and writer in only one year. We are very happy and excited about working closely with Alan, Gunnar and their fantastic team going forward and very much look forward to contribute to his artist and songwriter world. Next year is going to be exciting.”
Walker’s manager, Gunnar Greve, said: “We are equally grateful and excited about entering what we hope and believe will be a long and prosperous partnership and relationship with Sony/ATV. On the basis of our matching ambitions for and with the creative work of Alan Walker, we are confident that this will enable us to reach the goals we have set out for 2017 and beyond. Our sincerest gratitude to Johnny Tennander, Guy Moot and the rest of the Sony/ATV staff for making this happen.”
Walker’s song Faded has been one of the biggest global releases of the past 12 months, with Spotify placing it among its Top 10 hits worldwide of 2016. It has also become the most-streamed song by a Scandinavian artist of all time.
