Van Inks New Record Deal. New Album in 2008

40 Years After Releasing His First Solo Album Van Morrison Signs New Record Deal

Van Morrison has renewed his relationship with Polydor Records in one of the music industry's most important deals of the year.

The deal grants Polydor the rights in Van's catalogue of recordings - one of the most seminal in the music business - a move which has allowed the release later this month of a Greatest Hits album which spans all five decades of his career for the first time. The album, "Still On Top", will be one of Polydor's biggest releases for Christmas, and will pave the way for Van's eagerly-anticipated next studio album - due early 2008 on Exile Productions/Polydor Records.

Despite being in the music business since the Sixties (when on occasions he played seven gigs a day) Van still averages 100 gigs a year. He has sold an estimated 40m records worldwide, and his catalogue consistently sells in excess of half a million records a year across the globe.

Universal Music Operations president David Joseph says: "Van Morrison is one of the greatest artists of all time. We look forward to working with his past, present and most importantly his future hits."


Promo Ad For Van's Forthcoming Greatest Hits Compilation

Some facts about Polydor...

Polydor is the UK's leading record company, and home to some of the most successful new talent to emerge from this country in the past five years.

The label's UK roster includes the multi platinum-selling artists Scissor Sisters, Snow Patrol, Kaiser Chiefs, Take That, James Morrison and Girls Aloud as well as this year's successful breakthroughs Klaxons and Kate Nash. They share a roster with successful acts from across the musical spectrum, from Ian Brown to Yeah Yeah Yeahs. In 2006, the label's Snow Patrol, Take That and Scissor Sisters emerged as the three biggest-selling albums of the year - giving Polydor Records an unprecedented 1-2-3 of the chart of the year.

Formed in 1946, Polydor is a label with a rich heritage. Its catalogue includes the work of such musical greats as The Who, Cream, The Jam and Abba.

Polydor is run by joint presidents David Joseph and Colin Barlow. It is owned by Universal Music Group, the world's leading music company with wholly-owned record operations or licensees in 77 countries around the world.

Distributed by PR Newswire on behalf of Polydor

More On Van's re-releases of 34 album back catalogue

2008 will also witness a brand new album release and the beginning of Van’s re-released 34 album back catalogue in batches of 6 with expanded audio content over the coming years. Van Morrison’s catalogue put into perspective has been one of our most consistent performers in recent years before his departure and is comparable in its consistent performance of 500,000 annual sales to the likes of our Rolling Stones catalogue over the same period.