Photo Credit: Warner Music Group x Paramount Pictures
Warner Music Group and Paramount Pictures have announced a partnership for theatrical films focused on iconic artists and songwriters in a multi-year deal. The tie-up comes on the heels of a similar Netflix deal.
Paramount Pictures and Warner Music Group (WMG) have announced a multi-year deal that will partner the companies on theatrical films, drawing on the lives and music of WMG’s storied roster of artists and songwriters.
WMG and its production partner, Unigram, led by Amanda Ghost and Gregor Cameron, will work with Paramount to develop each project in collaboration with the artists and songwriters or their estates. WMG and Unigram are both represented by WME.
“This collaboration with Paramount unites the two forward-looking and innovative companies, and together we’re taking a fresh approach to the space,” said Robert Kyncl, CEO of WMG. “Every artist deserves to tell the stories behind their life and music in their own creative way, and we’re excited to partner with our incredible talent and world-class filmmakers to bring these stories to the big screen, growing their audiences around the world.”
“We’re excited to partner with WMG and their extraordinary artists to create powerful theatrical experiences inspired by generation-defining music and talent,” said Josh Greenstein and Dana Goldberg, Co-Chairs of Paramount Pictures.
The news comes just a couple of months after WMG inked a creative multi-year partnership with Netflix—also alongside Unigram—for the creation of documentary series and films exploring the lives and music of WMG artists and songwriters.
“The combination of Warner Music Group’s IP with Netflix’s global reach is an incredible opportunity to introduce new fans to our artists and songwriters all around the world,” Kyncl said of the deal.
With the theatrical success of Lionsgate’s Michael and the streaming numbers of Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour film, Beyonce’s concert film, Harry Styles’ Manchester concert, and other music documentaries and biopics, it’s a smart move for WMG to go all-in on the future of music-based programming.
