London (6 April, 2011) - Universal Music Publishing Classical (UMPC) and Hal Leonard Corporation today announced a deal for Hal Leonard to provide UMPC exclusive services for world-wide print distribution and for hire (rental) rights fulfilment for UMPC's prestigious and content-rich classical music catalogues, commencing July 1, 2011.

UMPC's Universal MGB Publications in Milan oversees publishing, sales, marketing and distribution of printed editions and hire (rental) parts for the music publishing catalogues Ricordi, Éditions Salabert, Éditions Durand, and Éditions Max Eschig. Under the terms of the new deal, Hal Leonard will manage print distribution and hire (rental) operations, and jointly developing with UMPC new publications for global sale. Hal Leonard's subsidiary, De Haske, will be integrally involved in the European operations.

UMPC's Editio Musica Budapest (EMB) will continue its operations independently, with Hal Leonard assuming EMB printed music and hire (rental) distribution in certain territories.

UMPC will continue handling all other rights and repertoire matters relating to all of the catalogues, including grand and small performance rights, synchronization, mechanical and all other licensing rights, promotion, and other operations for all of the catalogues.