Universal Music Group U.K.’s Globe division, long known for placing music in films, TV, games, and advertising, is now pushing deeper into scripted content through its Globe Originals unit. The initiative aims to develop films where music is the creative engine, opening new opportunities for artists to branch out beyond traditional releases and tours.
Building on a Strong Track Record
Globe Originals has already collaborated on acclaimed projects such as Amy, Steven Knight’s This Town for the BBC, Mary McCartney’s If These Walls Could Sing for Disney+, the BAFTA-nominated short Nostalgie, and the Oscar-winning Hamnet. The unit has worked with high-profile directors and producers including Quentin Tarantino, Richard Curtis, Danny Boyle, and Faye Ward.
New Partnerships and Projects
Led by president Marc Robinson, Globe recently announced a partnership with Hollywood producer Shannon McIntosh, known for her collaborations with Tarantino. Together, they are developing a slate of music-driven films, including:
- Falling, a modern love story starring Simone Ashley and Sam Claflin.
- Dusty vs Dusty, a twist on the biopic format centered on Dusty Springfield.
- Annie Oakley Hanging, a rebellious frontier love story powered by an original soundtrack from Bastille’s Dan Smith and To Kill a King’s Ralph Pelleymounter.
McIntosh praised the approach of “reverse engineering” films by starting with the soundtrack, calling it invigorating and a natural way to merge music and cinema.
Artists as Multi-Hyphenates
Robinson emphasized that Globe Originals is designed for multi-talented creatives who thrive as multi-hyphenates. Dan Smith, for example, has moved from writing songs for Netflix’s Kaos and BBC’s Planet Earth III to scoring Nostalgie, a BAFTA-nominated short starring Aidan Gillen. Smith described the experience as “the absolute dream,” highlighting how writing for film differs from traditional albums by serving the director’s vision.
Robinson sees Smith as the blueprint for Globe Originals: “Dan is a great example of an artist who thinks very narratively and is a huge cinephile. His work has always been cinematic.”
Expanding Horizons
Globe Originals is also producing four documentaries about U.K. artists, with details expected later this year. Robinson noted that the shift from being a “receiver” of film products to engaging at the early stages of development allows Globe to bring music into storytelling in new ways.
For artists like Smith, the opportunity to explore narrative-driven projects represents a natural evolution. “It’s all about that fusion of music and film in an organic way,” Robinson said. “We’re seeing the evolution of Dan Smith happen in real time.”
With Globe Originals, UMG U.K. is positioning itself at the intersection of music and cinema, championing artists who want to expand their creative reach and shaping a new era of music-driven storytelling.
