Rocker John Mellencamp has pledged to release all of his forthcoming music with Republic Records after signing what has been dubbed a "lifetime" contract with the label.

The Jack & Diane singer, 62, will unveil his 22nd album, Plain Spoken, with the Universal Music Group subsidiary this autumn (14), and company boss Monte Lipman reveals it will be the first of many more to come.

He says, "Not only has he served as an ambassador of social consciousness in America, but he has also provided the soundtrack of a generation.

"We're thrilled to be working with John Mellencamp as part of this historic deal."

Details about the deal have not been disclosed.

He released his last studio project, 2010's No Better Than This, on independent label Rounder Records.