Universal Music Group (UMG) has formed Mercury Studios – a new “multi-faceted content studio” that will develop, produce, and invest in “innovative, music-based storytelling.”
In addition to content development and production, Mercury Studios will include global film and television producer, Eagle Rock Entertainment (ERE) and build upon ERE’s library that includes nearly 2,000 hours of programming and more than 800 titles of original documentaries.
Mercury Studios will produce content with music continuing to serve as the foundation for projects across performance/live, factual/reality, scripted, artist and filmmaker partnerships and remastering and audio originals via film and television content, podcasts and short form content. In addition, Mercury will leverage ERE’s global sales division alongside home video and digital media distribution.
Mercury Studios will be led by Alice Webb, who was appointed CEO of Eagle Rock by Universal Music UK, Chairman and CEO, David Joseph in 2019, following a 15-year career at the BBC.
David Joseph, Chairman and CEO of Universal Music UK, says: “Mercury Studios will bring together the very best in the business under the exceptional leadership of Alice, who has already proved herself as a dynamic creative innovator, not least during her time at the BBC. Mercury will be about bold ideas, exciting new talent but above all compelling visual storytelling, all of which will be demonstrated with the exciting projects we will be announcing over the coming weeks. Music is a world full of the most extraordinary stories, with so many yet to be told.”
Alice Webb, CEO of Mercury Studios, says: “Music is a passion – it touches every part of our lives, which is why Mercury Studios is such an exciting proposition. We are unique – bringing together expertise from across music, film and television in factual, scripted, premium audio, performance and so much more. We can offer creators a vibrant space to realise the projects they are truly passionate about, tapping into the wealth of expertise we have access to. We are also keen to welcome new blood: talented, ambitious people who want to make distinctive, relevant content with music at its heart.”
Mercury Studios will carry on ERE’s rich history of filming live performances most recently in the form of live-streamed concerts for artists including Sam Smith, Glass Animals and The Streets, the last of which won the UKMVA’s Best Music Film Award for 2020. ERE’s library of nearly 2,000 hours of programming and more than 800 titles of original documentaries, television and film content including the Grammy Award-nominated documentary Miles Davis: The Birth of Cool and current Grammy Award nominee, That Little Ol’ Band from Texas, the story of ZZ Top, will be housed in Mercury Studios. ERE’s catalogue also includes some of the most iconic performances and concert footage in history from artists such as The Rolling Stones, Ella Fitzgerald, Queen and Dr Dre.
Mercury Studios will have offices in London and Los Angeles.
Jon Creamer
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