AndrewLloydWebber.com

PRESS RELEASE: LONDON, February 23, 2010 – Universal Music Group and Andrew Lloyd Webber have signed long-term, global recording and music publishing agreements which renew and expand a long-standing partnership between the world’s leading music company and the most successful composer of our time.

Under these new arrangements with Lloyd Webber’s Really Useful Group, Universal Music Group will exclusively distribute and market the composer’s recorded music catalogue in digital and physical formats, and Universal Music Publishing Group will administer and exploit Really Useful’s extensive music publishing interests, including their representation for film, TV, advertising and other mediums.

Andrew Lloyd Webber said, “I am delighted to have renewed my partnership with Universal Music. They have been wonderful custodians of my music for over three decades, and it is a relationship that I and my colleagues at RUG value most highly. Together we have taken the music around the world, and it is exciting to be announcing this agreement on the eve of our latest collaboration, the “Love Never Dies” album. I am grateful to my friends, and I really mean friends, at Universal for their loyalty and support over many years, and look forward to working with them in future, especially as we work together to explore the incredible possibilities that digital technologies will bring. ”

The renewed worldwide partnership comes on the eve of the debut of “Love Never Dies,” Andrew Lloyd Webber’s new musical. Polydor Records will release the cast recording in March, to coincide with the show’s opening in London’s West End. This will be followed by openings in New York in November 2010 and Australia in 2011, and worldwide release of the album.

Universal Music Publishing Group will represent the music from “Love Never Dies,” and the new deal also extends the worldwide (ex-UK/Eire) publishing agreement for the entire Really Useful Group catalogue.

Universal Music and Andrew Lloyd Webber have enjoyed a successful relationship since the 1970 release of the original “Jesus Christ Superstar” concept album. The new partnership was negotiated by Jean-François (JF) Cécillon, Vice Chairman, The Really Useful Group; Lucian Grainge, Chairman/CEO, Universal Music Group International; David Renzer, Chairman/CEO, Universal Music Publishing Group; and David Joseph, Chairman/CEO, Universal Music UK.

Lucian Grainge said: “I am personally delighted that we have renewed our commercial and creative association with The Really Useful Group. To have a strategic business partnership with Andrew as well as a personal relationship is one of the things that really makes this business tick.”

JF Cécillon said, “Signing simultaneously both the recorded and publishing catalogues to one company is a major development for us. Our strategy is to enhance the asset value of our properties – in particular across all legal digital platforms globally – and clearly, our ability to manage and protect our music, both past and future recordings, is of great importance. We have a strong and supportive relationship with Universal Music, and I’m delighted to cement our partnership for the future.”

David Renzer said: “We are thrilled to be extending our working relationship with Andrew Lloyd Webber and the Really Useful Group team. Andrew is one of the legends of the theatrical world and of our industry, and we have no doubt that “Love Never Dies” will continue to build on his legacy and incredible track record.”

Recordings of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s work have sold in the tens of millions during the past 40 years. Worldwide sales of “The Phantom of the Opera” albums alone have exceeded 20 million. His recorded music and music publishing catalogues include such extraordinary properties as “Evita,” “Jesus Christ Superstar,” “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat,” “Cats” and “Starlight Express.”

image shows, from left: David Joseph, Chairman/CEO, Universal Music UK; Andrew Lloyd Webber; Lucian Grainge, Chairman/CEO, Universal Music Group International; Jean-François (JF) Cécillon, Vice Chairman, Really Useful Group.