Taylor is seen here with Nashville boss and longtime Tay publisher Troy Tomlinson, Jody Gerson, UMG topper Sir Lucian Grainge and kitty Benjamin Button. They gave us this pic once we agreed to clean out BB's catbox.

Taylor Swift has signed an exclusive global publishing agreement with Universal Music Publishing Group, further strengthening the partnership between Swift and the Universal Music family.

Swift said she made the move “for the opportunity to work with Jody Gerson. Jody is an advocate for women’s empowerment and one of the most-respected and accomplished industry leaders.”

UMPG Chairman and CEO Gerson complimented Swift by saying, “Using her power and voice to create a better world, Taylor’s honest and brave songwriting continues to be an inspiration to countless fans. We look forward to further amplifying Taylor's voice and songs across the globe.”

Combined with her Republic label deal, this new pact makes UMG Taylor's overall home for recordings and compositions. We don't have to list all of her hits for you, do we? No? Great.

The move was not entirely unexpected, given that Troy Tomlinson, who signed Swift when she was an adolescent, moved to Universal's Music City office from Sony/ATV Nashville last year. Many insiders believed Swift would follow Tomlinson to her new home.

“I’ve had the distinct pleasure of working with Taylor since she was 14-years-old, and she still amazes me daily,” Tomlinson said. “The true definition of a multi-generational artist and songwriter, Taylor’s songs, vision and unwavering determination have always been an inspiration.”

Photo courtesy TAS Rights Management