Sony/ATV Signs Harrell

Sony/ATV Signs Harrell By Lars Brandle, London (June 01 2007) – Sony/ATV Music Publishing in the United Kingdom has signed writer and producer Thaddis Harrell to a long-term, worldwide publishing deal. Atlanta-based Harrell (aka Kuk) is a member of the Red Zone Productions team, which wrote and produced the smash hit “Umbrella” by Rihanna feat. Jay-Z. The new deal, disclosed today, covers “Umbrella,” which is currently at No. 1 on both sides of the Atlantic. In the United States, the single this week improved 42-1 on the Billboard Hot 100 on 277,000 digital sales. British record buyers purchased more than 38,000 copies of the track to maintain its No. 1 position on this week’s Official U.K. Singles Chart. The record also tops the respective charts in Denmark and Ireland and is a top-5 hit in Norway and Sweden, for a No. 5 placing on Eurochart Hot 100 Singles. “This signing is a real coup for us,” comments Rak Sanghvi, Sony/ATV Music Publishing U.K. managing director. “His slate of forthcoming cuts on some amazing projects will raise his profile even further over the coming months and I look forward to him receiving the recognition he deserves for being one of the best writer/producers in the business.” Harrell’s confirmed future projects include Mary J. Blige, Mariah Carey and the debut solo effort from Pussycat Doll Nicole Scherzinger, according to a statement issued today on behalf of Sony/ATV. Source: [url=http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/content_display/industry/e3i10d8acfd8966c3633e36bb8ef8a6c6b5]Billboard.biz[/url]