UNIVERSAL MUSIC GROUP ANNOUNCES EXPANDED PARTNERSHIP WITH GRAMMY-WINNING PRODUCER OF THE YEAR, DANIEL NIGRO AND HIS AMUSEMENT RECORDS
UNIVERSAL MUSIC GROUP ANNOUNCES EXPANDED PARTNERSHIP WITH GRAMMY-WINNING PRODUCER OF THE YEAR, DANIEL NIGRO AND HIS AMUSEMENT RECORDS
Partnership will see Amusement Records artists collaborate across UMG’s family of labels
[L-R. Daniel Nigro, Sir Lucian Grainge. Photo: Taylor Hornecker]
SANTA MONICA, March 26 2025 – Universal Music Group (UMG), the world leader in music-based entertainment and two-time Grammy winning producer Daniel Nigro, today announced an expanded partnership with his Amusement Records label, following the collaborative success of Chappell Roan’s debut album The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess, which was released with Island Records, and building upon his long-term relationship with Olivia Rodrigo a Geffen/Interscope artist. Island and Geffen/Interscope are UMG labels.
Under the new agreement, Amusement will operate as a central label venture within UMG, with new artist signings able to partner across UMG’s iconic global family of labels.
In making the announcement, Universal Music Group Chairman & CEO, Sir Lucian Grainge said, “Daniel embodies the type of creative brilliance and entrepreneurial spirit that is at the heart of UMG. I’m so pleased to embark on this next chapter in our successful relationship, and I can’t wait to hear the culture shaping music and artists Daniel will bring next to our global family.”
Daniel Nigro said, “After 6 years of working almost exclusively with the various labels/artists under Universal, it made perfect sense to make the relationship more formal. I want Amusement Records to be a place where artists can feel comfortable growing and developing at their own pace but with all the real resources needed to thrive and succeed. Also, a place where I can have the freedom to help choose the right team each time for the artist. I know in my heart that the people at Universal understand this, and I am beyond excited about what’s to come.”
Nigro founded Amusement Records in 2023, as a home for Chappell Roan, who had parted ways with her former label, to release the music they had created together for The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess. The album was released in September 2023 and has since gone on to achieve global critical acclaim and success. As of March 2025, the album has peaked at No.2 on the Billboard 200 and No.1 on the Billboard Artist 100, with more than 4.3Bn streams worldwide, and only continues to grow. This month, five years after its initial release in April of 2020, “Pink Pony Club” climbed to top 5 of the US Top 40 Charts, Top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 and has spent 2 weeks at #1 on the UK Singles Chart. 2024’s single, “Good Luck, Babe!” became one of the most successful singles of the year; Hitting #1 at US Top 40 Radio selling more than 12 million copies Worldwide to date.
Nigro, who was recently named Producer of the Year at the 67th Grammy Awards for his work last year with Roan, Rodrigo and soundtrack for The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes, is a critically acclaimed record producer and songwriter based in Los Angeles, by way of Long Island, NY. Nigro has worked closely with artists such as Caroline Polachek, Sky Ferreira, Conan Gray, Chappell Roan and Olivia Rodrigo. In addition, Roan was also awarded Best New Artist at the 67th Grammy Awards.
Daniel has collected various accolades throughout his career, including thirteen Grammy nominations and two-time Grammy Award winner. In addition, he was honored as Producer of the Year at Variety’s 2024 Hitmakers Awards, and alongside co-writer Olivia Rodrigo, as the 2024 ASCAP Pop Music Songwriters of the Year. The pair were also awarded Best Outstanding Original Song for a Dramatic or Documentary Visual Media Production at the Society of Composers & Lyricist (SCL) Awards for “Can’t Catch Me Now” from The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes.
About Universal Music Group
Universal Music Group exists to shape culture through the power of artistry. UMG is the world leader in music-based entertainment, with a broad array of businesses engaged in recorded music, music publishing, merchandising and audiovisual content. Featuring the most comprehensive catalogue of recordings and songs across every musical genre, UMG identifies and develops artists and produces and distributes the most critically acclaimed and commercially successful music in the world. Committed to artistry, innovation and entrepreneurship, UMG fosters the development of services, platforms and business models in order to broaden artistic and commercial opportunities for our artists and create new experiences for fans. For more information, visit www.universalmusic.com
