A successful songwriter signed to Black Butter/BMG for publishing for seven years, in 2014 James won a BRIT for his work on Rudimental’s chart-topping platinum seller Waiting All Night and has since written hits for artists including Ed Sheeran, Jess Glynne, Little Mix, Calvin Harris, Olly Murs, Jessie Ware, Kesha, Kaiser Chiefs and his famous younger brother, John Newman. 

His own career as an artist, on hold for several years, has picked up pace of late, with hits including Therapy with the Dutch dance producer Armin Van Buuren, handily a No.1 airplay record in The Netherlands, and he released his debut EP ‘The Things We Do’ in Summer 2020 and ended the year with another new collaboration with Armin Van Buuren, ‘Slow Lane’. His history of chart success demonstrates his strong ability as a songwriter, and a debut album is soon to follow. 
 
Not one to shy away from a challenge, in 2021 Newman wrote and performed his song 'Embers' in the Eurovision song contest.

James is currently a frontline recording artist for BMG, as well as being under BMG's publishing as a writer.