Sony/ATV Music Publishing has signed a worldwide deal with ABC songwriter and lead vocalist Martin Fry to represent the iconic British band’s extensive back catalogue and their 2016 Top 10 album.

The agreement covers Fry and the group’s string of much-loved pop classics such as “The Look Of Love”, “Poison Arrow”, “All Of My Heart” and “When Smokey Sings”, while also includes all his compositions on ABC’s 2016 album The Lexicon Of Love II, which debuted at No. 5 in the UK following its release in May.

Besides the new publishing deal covering ABC’s songs, Sony/ATV will additionally handle the group’s Neighbouring Rights, rights related to their sound recordings whenever they are commercially exploited in outlets including radio and TV airplay or a public performance.

Sony/ATV Senior VP A&R/Catalogue Fran Malyan said: “Martin has such a gift for writing and performing and he continues to deliver after all these years. I am immensely honoured to work with him and represent his entire catalogue.” 

Martin Fry said: “It’s a real pleasure to be working alongside Fran once again. In fact, the whole team here are at Sony/ATV are truly an inspiration. I’ve been writing songs for 30 years now. I can’t stop. I guess I’m still searching for the perfect beat.” 

Creating what All Music describes as “perfect pop”, ABC formed in Sheffield in north east England in 1980 and became one of the most acclaimed and commercially successful acts of the decade. Fronted by the charismatic Martin Fry, they initially broke through with debut single “Tears Are Not Enough”, while the next three singles “Poison Arrow”, “The Look Of Love” and “All Of My Heart” all made the UK Top 10.

The four singles were all included on the group’s 1982 introductory album The Lexicon Of Love, which was co-produced by Trevor Horn and reached No. 1 in the UK. It has since been hailed by a number of publications including Q and The Observer as one of the greatest British albums of all time, while VH1 cited “The Look Of Love” as one of the 100 Greatest Songs of the 80s. Following its release ABC have recorded eight further studio albums, while added to their list of classic singles with hits such as “When Smokey Sings”, “That Was Then This Is Now” and “(How To Be A) Millionaire”.

The group also played a starring role in the so-called second British Invasion of the US during the 1980s when they scored seven Billboard Hot 100 hits, including two which made the pop Top 10 (“Be Near Me” and “When Smokey Sings”) and three which reached No. 1 on Billboard’s Dance Chart.

In the three decades since the release of their first album, ABC have remained an essential live attraction around the world, drawing on the enduring popularity of their wealth of treasured hits. However, last year Fry and the group returned to the studio to make what became The Lexicon of Love II, their first album of new songs in eight years and the long-awaited sequel to their debut set.

Produced by Gary Stevenson and reuniting them with the original album’s orchestrator Anne Dudley, the new album perfectly captured the sound and feel of its predecessor, while delivering Fry and the group their highest-charting album in 34 years with a top-five peak in the UK. The Guardian described it as “the sound of an old master falling not far short of a standard that his youthful self set very high”, while Rolling Stone names it in its Best Pop Albums of 2016 So Far.