Universal Music Publishing Group (UMPG), Universal Music Group’s leading global publishing division, today announced that accomplished executive Shirin Foroutan has been appointed to the role of Senior Vice President and General Manager, Universal Music Publishing Europe, effective immediately. Based in London, she reports to Marc Cimino, UMPG Chief Operating Officer. Foroutan succeeds Simon Baker, who has served as GM, European Operations since 2018 and will continue at the company in a senior management capacity. In her new role, Foroutan will work closely with both the company’s European Managing Directors and C-suite leadership in Santa Monica.

Sting is set to become a Fellow of the Ivors Academy – the highest honor it can bestow.  He will receive the award at The Ivors ceremony on 18th May in London.

Universal Music Publishing Group (UMPG), Universal Music Group’s leading global music publishing division, celebrated an unprecedented evening of wins at the 65th annual GRAMMY Awards. The premier music publisher’s family of world-class songwriters, artists and producers swept major awards including Songwriter of the Year, Best Rap Song, Best Rock Song, Best R&B Song, Best Gospel Performance/Song, Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song, a spectrum of Best Album awards, and more.

Kendrick Lamar, Adele, Brandi Carlile, Harry Styles, Mary J.Blige, ABBA, Taylor Swift, Kid Harpoon, Steve Lacy, H.E.R., Coldplay, Bad Bunny, Drake, Blake Slatkin amongst leading UMPG songwriters and artists nominated across major categories. In the major categories, UMPG writers and producers contributed to all 10 of the Best Album Nominees, nine of the Record of The Year nominees and seven in Song of the Year. In the inaugural Songwriter of the year category, UMPG has two of the five nominees with Nija Charles and Tobias Jesso Jr. represented.

Universal Music Publishing China (UMP China), a division of Universal Music Publishing Group (UMPG), today announced the signing of an exclusive, global publishing agreement with RYCE Publishing, the prominent publishing division of RYCE Entertainment, one of China’s leading music and entertainment companies.

Universal Music Publishing Group (UMPG), Universal Music Group’s leading global music publishing division, today announced an exclusive global publishing agreement to represent the iconic song catalog of Irving Berlin. The deal builds upon UMPG’s existing relationship with Berlin’s estate as the company has served as his catalog administrator, ex-US, since 2012.

Universal Music Publishing Group (UMPG), Universal Music Group’s leading global publishing division, today announced that highly respected publishing executive Jennifer Knoepfle, has been appointed as Executive Vice President and Co-Head of US A&R, effective immediately. Based in Los Angeles, Knoepfle will report to Jody Gerson, UMPG Chairman and CEO.

Universal Music Publishing Group (UMPG), Universal Music Group’s leading global publishing division, today announced that respected publishing executive David Gray will serve in an expanded role as Head of the UMPG Global Creative Group. He will also continue in his position as Executive Vice President and Head of US A&R. Based in New York City, Gray will continue reporting to Jody Gerson, UMPG Chairman and CEO.
 
Gray will head the newly formed UMPG Global Creative Group, a team of senior A&R executives across key territories who will identify and expand global creative opportunities for UMPG songwriters, artists and producers. The Group’s formation reinforces the company’s commitment to always innovating upon its leading A&R publishing strategy.

Universal Music Group (UMG), the world leader in music-based entertainment, today announced an agreement between Moon, Dweezil, Ahmet and Diva Zappa (the Zappa Trust) to acquire Frank Zappa’s estate, including his expansive recordings, publishing catalog of iconic songs, film archive, and the complete contents of The Vault, the near mythic storage facility that houses the late Zappa’s life’s work. The content spans the prolific four-decade career of the legendary, boundary-pushing musician, acclaimed composer, virtuoso guitarist, and prominent activist.

With the acquisition, which additionally includes Frank Zappa’s name and likeness, Universal Music Enterprises (UMe), UMG’s global catalog company, and Universal Music Publishing Group (UMPG), the company’s leading music publisher, will build on the company’s already successful track record of working with the Zappa Trust to amplify Frank Zappa’s career as a trailblazer, iconoclast, brilliant musician and fearless artist who challenged music and culture with his unconventional and uncompromising vision and advocacy.

At the 70th annual BMI Pop Awards held on May 10th in Beverly Hills, UMPG was thrilled to be named Publisher of the Year. UMPG also won Song of the Year for “Mood” written by UMPG writers Omer Fedi, Blake Slatkin and Iann Dior. Additionally, Omer Fedi also won Songwriter of the Year, having UMPG sweep the night’s three biggest categories.