“It’s such a delight to gather again,” declared Warner Chappell Co-Chair/CEO Guy Moot during this festive photo op and champagne toast marking the pubco’s extension of its deal with hit songwriter and rapper/producer Belly, which sees WCM acquiring 50% of the creator’s song catalog. “Why, we could even invite a few of those HITS people over.” After a beat, the following people all laughed and laughed: Moot, Co-Chair/COO Carianne Marshall, Belly (aka Ahmad Balshe), President of U.S. A&R Ryan Press and manager/SALCO chief Wassim “Sal” Slaiby.

Belly’s prodigious output includes co-writing stone smashes “Blinding Lights” and the Oscar-nominated “Earned It” with The Weeknd (he co-penned six cuts on the latter’s quadruple-platinum Beauty Behind the Madness); the two also co-crafted Beyoncé’s “6-Inch.” Belly has likewise worked with SZA, Nipsey Hussle, French Montana, G-Eazy, Juicy J and more, in addition to crafting his own material.

"Belly’s become one of the most impactful and versatile songwriters and artists of our time,” reads a quote issued jointly by Moot and Marshall. "He’s accomplished so much over the past two decades, from building up an impressive solo career to working with The Weeknd as one of his top collaborators. We’re excited to continue our partnership with him alongside Sal and the whole team at XO."

"Belly has some of the best songwriting instincts in the game, and we couldn’t be prouder to be on this journey with him,” added Press. "Along with his natural gift for writing songs, he’s an amazing rapper and has spent the last few years crafting his best body of work yet as an artist. We’re looking forward to what’s next and the highly anticipated release of his new album."