UMPG has appointed Walter Jones as VP Creative. Reporting to David Gray, UMPG EVP/Head of West Coast A&R, Jones will relocate to Los Angeles, and joins UMPG’s global A&R team from Sony/ATV, where he served as Vice President of Urban A&R.

Some of the greatest songs ever written by Prince are now streaming worldwide on services such as Spotify, Apple Music, Pandora, Amazon Prime, and Google Play, among others.

At the 59th annual Grammy Awards held last night, Universal Music Publishing Group artists, writers and producers took home 17 awards in a wide range of major categories. UMPG artist Adele, the biggest winner of the evening, received five Grammy Awards including Record of the Year, Song of the Year and Best Pop Solo Performance for her global smash hit ballad, “Hello,” Album of the Year and Best Pop Vocal Album for 25, the best-selling album of 2015 and 2016.

Hip-hop star Big Sean scored his second No.1, on the Billboard 200 album charts with his newest release, I Decided. The album features the singles “Bounce Back” and “Moves” along with guest features from UMPG artists Jeremih, Eminem, Jhene Aiko and Quavo, plus additional UMPG songwriting credits from Metro Boomin, Travis Scott and DJ Khalil. Congratulations to Big Sean and all our amazing writers on the record!

UMPG has appointed Rochelle Holguin to the position of Vice President of Creative Strategy. Holguin’s newly created role is part of UMPG’s global strategy to accelerate the company’s focus on creative development and strategic marketing for artists, songwriters and song catalog. Reporting to Gerson, Holguin will work closely with UMPG's Sync and A&R teams, as well as UMG’s Film/TV development group, to create unique partnerships and promotional opportunities with streaming services, TV/film studios, digital, social and other emerging platforms.

Just a few days before Super Bowl Sunday, Billboard.biz ran a major feature spotlighting our own Tom Eaton, SVP of Music for Advertising, and the stellar UMPG advertising team.

Universal Music Publishing Australia has signed a global music publishing deal with rising Melbourne artist/producer Woodes, it was announced today by Andrew Jenkins, President of Universal Music publishing Australasia, and Arwen Curson, VP Creative of Universal Music Publishing Australia and New Zealand.

On the heels of his first Oscar nomination and showstopping Academy Awards performance of “Cant Stop The Feeling,” JT readies his next album and meets his idol Bill Withers.

In celebration of the 50th anniversary of their songwriting partnership, Elton John and Bernie Taupin have launched a competition to find emerging talent to create videos for their iconic songs, "Rocket Man," "Tiny Dancer" and "Benny and the Jets." Entitled "The Cut," the competition has been created in partnership with Dreamworks Animation CEO Jeffrey Katzenberg, Grammy Award-wining music video maker Melina Matsoukas, and Golden Globe winning filmmaker Barry Jenkins.

At the sold out iconic Coachella Music and Arts Festival in Indio, California, Universal Music Publishing has 16 incredible artists performing including The xx, Travis Scott, Empire of The Sun, Future, Martin Garrix, and New Order plus Banks & Steelz, Bastille, Crystal Castles, Kungs, Raury, Shura, Tale of Us, Tory Lanez, Toots & The Maytals and Tourist. The three day festival will take place two weekends this year, Friday April 14 – Sunday April 16 and Friday April 21 – Sunday April 23.