Idris Elba UMPG deal

Idris Elba and UMPG CEO Jody Gerson. Photo Credit: Taylor Hornecker

Idris Elba is “a songwriter who sometimes acts” – according to Universal Music Publishing Group (UMPG), which has finalized an expanded worldwide deal with the 53-year-old.

UMPG today confirmed its exclusive pact with the “multidisciplinary talent” Elba, who, while best known for his film and television work, has apparently been active in music for some time.

That includes the release of a “debut” EP entitled High Class Problems the better part of two decades ago, before an album called Idris Elba Presents mi Mandela arrived in 2014. The London native also made a commercial splash with the 2019 collaboration “Boasty,” which is approaching 200 million Spotify streams.

More recently, May 2025 brought with it an album, No Lip Service, released as S’able Sounds with contributions from Elba, his wife, and others. Additionally, Elba operates two labels, 7Wallace (which set sail in 2015) and the house-geared Sound International, and has teed up an afterparty performance for December’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

Stated differently, complimentary tone or not, there may be something to the initially mentioned songwriter-actor description, which came from UMPG UK A&R head Pete Simmons.

“People might think Idris is an actor who sometimes makes music, but in reality, he’s a songwriter who sometimes acts,” Simmons said. “His curiosity and commitment to his craft are inspiring and there aren’t many writers I’ve met who can deliver club records, amapiano records and melancholy folk records all in one WhatsApp group.”

Touching on similar ideas in remarks of his own, UMPG UK MD and global A&R head David Gray touted Elba’s ability to move “easily between genres.”

“Idris is the rare writer and musician that moves easily between genres and can great [sic] create songs in every possible way,” indicated Gray. “We are honoured to be working with him to continue to build his already impressive music career.”

And Elba himself added: “Excited to be working with David Gray, Pete Simmons, Lincoln Elias, and the team at UMPG. Writing brings me real joy—and having great people around only elevates the process.”

To this point in October, UMPG has inked agreements with “Dynamite” songwriter Jessica Agombar, The Marías (the band co-wrote and released “Ojos Tristes” with Benny Blanco and Selena Gomez), and, via its classics and screen division, Daniel Lopatin (aka Oneohtrix Point Never).