SANTA MONICA, July 22, 2019 – Universal Music Publishing Group (UMPG), a leading global music publishing company, today announced that Terry Wakefield has been named Senior Vice President, A&R for the company’s Nashville division. He will report to UMPG Nashville’s recently-appointed Chairman and CEO Troy Tomlinson.
 
In his new role, Wakefield is responsible for signing and developing new songwriting talent, as well as supporting the company’s current roster of writers. He will also play a key leadership role in further strengthening UMPG Nashville’s creative division.
 

Universal Music Publishing Group has named Troy Tomlinson as Chairman and CEO of its Nashville division. With this appointment, Tomlinson – one of the industry’s most accomplished creative executives – becomes UMPG Nashville’s first-ever Chairman and CEO. 

Universal Music Publishing Group (UMPG) has signed Catie Offerman to an exclusive publishing deal.

Based in Nashville, Offerman has written with Liz Rose, Natalie Hemby, Nicolle Galyon, Lucie Silvas, Jeremy Spillman, Brett James, Troy Verges, Chase McGill, Ryan Beaver and more. The New Braunfels, Texas native got her start as a fiddle player performing for artists all over the country.

Universal Music Publishing Group (UMPG) announced that singer-songwriter Claire Wright has been signed to an exclusive publishing deal.

Based in Nashville, Wright is a native of Northern California. To create her signature sound of positive music that makes people feel good, Wright’s writing style mixes sunny West Coast vibes, her rural roots and her philosophy that life should be enjoyed. Her influences include Sugar Ray and Creedence Clearwater Revival.

On Wednesday February 20th, country music legend, Reba McEntire, announced the 2019 ACM Award nominees on CBS This Morning. The 54th ACM Awards will be airing live from the MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada on Sunday April 7th on CBS.

On December 7th the 2019 Grammy Award nominations were announced. UMPG Nashville songwriter Chase McGill was nominated twice in the Best Country Song category for co-writing “Break Up in the End” performed by Cole Swindell, and “When Someone Stops Loving You” performed by Little Big Town.

 

 

On Wednesday, November 14th Keith Urban was crowned 2018's CMA Entertainer of the Year.

Urban accepted the award as he wiped away tears and told the audience he was "shocked beyond shocked."

Natalie Hemby, known for penning No. 1 songs including “Downtown” (Lady Antebellum) and “Pontoon” (Little Big Town), has inked a global publishing deal with Universal Music Publishing Group.

The Nashville native has also written chart-topping songs including Little Big Town’s “Tornado,” Miranda Lambert’s “White Liar,” “Only Prettier,” “Baggage Claim” and “Automatic,” in addition to 10 tracks on Lambert’s double-album The Weight Of These Wings. Other hits in Hemby’s catalog include Kelly Clarkson’s “Don’t Rush” (ft. Vince Gill), Justin Moore’s “You Look Like I Need A Drink,” “A Little More Love,” with Jerrod Niemann and Lee Brice, and the Labrinth hit, “Jealous.”

NASHVILLE – July 23, 2018 – Universal Music Publishing Group (UMPG), a leading, global music publishing company, today announced that country music superstar Chris Young has been signed to a global publishing deal.
 
Boasting an outstanding track record, Young (RCA Records Nashville) is a Grammy and ACM-nominated vocalist with seventeen Gold, Platinum and Multi-Platinum-certified projects before the age of 33. He has recorded ten chart-topping singles including the co-written back-to-back No. 1s “Losing Sleep,” “Sober Saturday Night,” “Think Of You” and “I’m Comin’ Over.” In addition to penning his own hits, Young has also written songs recorded by Kane Brown, Jackie Lee and The Shires.

“Chris Young is a publisher’s dream. He’s a gifted songwriter, incredible vocalist and selling out arenas on his current headlining tour. We’re honored and thrilled that he has joined the UMPG family and look forward to an exciting future together,” said Kent Earls, Executive Vice President and General Manager, UMPG Nashville.

"Kent, Ron Stuve, Cyndi Forman, Evan Lamberg and everyone at Universal Music Publishing are passionate about my work as a songwriter and what can be accomplished together in the future. I can’t wait to see where we will go together as a team,” said Young.

UNIVERSAL MUSIC PUBLISHING NASHVILLE SIGNS GREYLAN JAMES TO GLOBAL PUBLISHING DEAL

NASHVILLE, June 13, 2018 -- Universal Music Publishing Group (UMPG), a leading, global music publishing company, today announced singer-songwriter Greylan James has been signed to a global publishing deal.

Raised outside of Knoxville, James has been writing songs since age thirteen. At 18-years-old, he was signed to his first publishing deal by Nashville Songwriter Hall of Fame inductee Bob DiPiero. James appeared on Season Four of NBC’s The Voice. He was also featured in Guitar Center Magazine’s Brotherhood of the Guitar Top 100, which ranks the top guitarists in the world under the age of 21.

“I am incredibly honored to be a part of UMPG’s roster of talented artists and songwriters.
The passion and excitement they show for the creative process lets me know I found my home.
I can’t wait to see what we can stir up together!” said James. “Special thanks to Kent, Ron, Travis and the rest of my Universal crew for welcoming me to the family.”