Kasabian Signs With Sony/ATV

Sony/ATV Music Publishing U.K. has signed a worldwide publishing deal with British rock act Kasabian and its principal songwriter, Sergio Pizzorno.

The deal, which is an exclusive worldwide, long-term songwriter agreement, covers future Kasabian releases as well as Pizzorno's writing for other projects.

Pizzorno's songs on the current Kasabian album, "West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum" (Columbia/Sony Music Entertainment), are published by EMI Music Publishing. The set, the band's third album, was nominated for the 2009 Barclaycard Mercury Prize for best U.K. album of the year. It has sold more than 500,000 in the U.K., according to Sony/ATV.

"I am thrilled to have concluded this deal and it is particularly pleasing that Serge and the band have chosen to come to Sony/ATV at such a vital juncture in their career; they are on the brink of worldwide fame and have chosen the Sony/ATV team as partners in achieving even greater creative and commercial success going forward," said Rak Sanghvi, managing director of Sony/ATV U.K., in a statement.

Pizzorno added: "I'm really looking forward to the next couple of years with the band; we have a fantastic momentum going now and Sony/ATV music publishing feels like the right team for where we're going."

The deal will be based out of Sony/ATV's London offices.