Sony/ATV Extends Worldwide Deal with Geoff Warburton

Sony/ATV Music Publishing has extended its worldwide deal with songwriter and musician Geoff Warburton, one of Shawn Mendes’ main collaborators

Warburton co-wrote a number of songs on the Canadian superstar’s first two studio albums, including the global hit single “There’s Nothing Holdin’ Me Back,” which reached No. 1 on both sides of the Atlantic and secured double-platinum status in the U.S. He also co-wrote Mendes’ new single, “In My Blood,” which within a day of release in March became one of the Top 5 most streamed songs globally on Spotify and has now reached No. 1 on iTunes in 50 countries. The new agreement covers both Warburton’s catalogue and future works.

Sony/ATV Co-President, U.S. Danny Strick said: “Geoff Warburton is an incredibly gifted writer whose songs have played a significant role in Shawn Mendes’ success around the world. We are very excited to continue our long association with him in what will be an exciting next career chapter.”

Sony/ATV Senior Director, A&R Clio Massey said: “It’s been a joy to work with Geoff since early on in his career and to see the development of his craft and his growth as a songwriter. We’re so happy to get to continue working with him and are excited for the future.”

Geoff Warburton said: “I’m so thrilled to re-sign with Sony/ATV. They’ve been such an amazing partner as a publisher and I can’t wait to keep the work going with them.”

His manager Andrew Gertler said: “With hits like ‘Holdin’ Me Back’ over the past year and writing on much of Shawn Mendes’ coming album, Clio, Danny, and the entire Sony/ATV have done an excellent job nurturing Geoff’s career as a writer and it only felt natural to continue his relationship with them. Can’t wait to see what the future holds for the partnership.”

Beginning with Shawn Mendes’ debut studio album Handwritten, which was released in April 2015, Toronto songwriter and musician Geoff Warburton has been one of Mendes’ closest collaborators. He co-penned several songs on the album, which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart in the U.S., making the then 16-year-old Mendes the youngest artist since fellow Canadian Justin Bieber to have a chart-topping album.

Warburton’s role in Mendes’ second album Illuminate, released in September 2016, was even more significant. He co-wrote eight of the 13 cuts on the standard version of the album alongside another song on the deluxe edition with Illuminate instantly giving Mendes a second No. 1 album in the U.S. and later second million-seller. It also became a Top 10 hit around the world, including peaking at No. 3 in the U.K.

Among Warburton’s contributions to Illuminate was the worldwide hit single “There’s Nothing Holdin’ Me Back,” which delivered Mendes a third Billboard Hot 100 Top 10 hit in the U.S. and reached No. 1 on Billboard’s Adult Contemporary, Adult Pop Songs and Mainstream Top 40 charts. It has been certified double-platinum status by the RIAA for 2 million equivalent U.S. sales and was also a No. 1 airplay hit in the U.K., Germany, Canada and a number of other markets around the world.

Besides co-penning Mendes’ current, global-charting single “In My Blood” and co-writing five other songs on his upcoming May 25-issued third studio set Shawn Mendes: The Album, including the song “Youth” featuring Khalid, Warburton has most recently been regularly working out of Los Angeles and Nashville, where he is fast building a reputation as a highly-sought-after pop, country and country pop writer.