David Gray appointed managing director of Universal Music Publishing Group in the UK, successfully Mike McCormackwho is stepping down from the role after nearly nine years at the helm to start a new consultancy and joint venture with UMPG. As well as taking the reins at the company's UK arm, Gray will also take up the newly created position of head of global A&R at UMPG.
Gray's promotion was announced Tuesday (Oct. 15) by UMPG's president and CEO Jody Gersonwho called him “one of the best creative A&R executives I've ever met”.
Gray was most recently UMPG's executive vice president and co-head of US A&R, as well as head of the company's Global Creative Group – a division he and Gerson created in 2022 to enhance opportunities for songwriters, producers, artists and executives across the world. scale.
Successful projects that have sprung from the Global Creative Group include the Colombian artist Fed and “Luna” by American hip-hop producer ATL Jacob, which topped the charts in several countries, and the album by Brazilian artist Luísa Sonza Escandalo Intimowhich became the third biggest debut for a female Latin album in Spotify history after its release last year.
Artists signed by Gray to UMPG include Sabrina Carpenter, Stephen Sanchez, Julia Michaels, Shawn Mendes, Nick Jonas, Joe Jonas and Demi Lovato.
In his newly expanded role, Gray will be responsible for leading the management and creative direction of UMPG's London office, overseeing the signing and development of songwriters, artists and producers, as well as supporting the company's current roster. Gray will move to London from New York in January, Universal Music Publishing Group said.
Announcing the appointment, Gerson praised Gray's “talent for identifying and building careers for songwriters, artists and producers” as well as “leading and mentoring the next generation of publishers.”
“I want to thank Jody for her continued belief in me and for shaping a company based on A&R, creativity and a belief in songwriters and artists that is at the heart of our ethos,” said Gray, who joined company in 2013 having previously held A&R positions at Zomba, Sony Music International and Simon Cowell's Syco Music, where he developed artists signed to the label through television shows The X Factor and the You have talent privilege.
Before becoming a music executive, Gray was signed to UMPG as the lead singer of the band Idle Wilds.
Gerson also thanked McCormack for his “many contributions” to UMPG during his almost nine years as managing director of the UK division. “I value him greatly as a friend and colleague,” Gerson said in a statement. “I am delighted that he will continue to be part of the UMPG family.”
In a memo sent to staff, which has been viewed by Bulletin boardMcCormack said he will step down from his role on November 4, but will remain a partner of UMPG for the next few years through a new joint venture being formed. McCormack, who first joined UMPG's UK operations in 1999, said he will also continue to help manage some of the long-term relationships he has built up over the years with the company's writers and catalogs.
“It has been a real honor to lead the UK company for the past nine years,” McCormack said, paying tribute to a group of colleagues he described as “extremely talented and wonderful”. “I am very proud of our achievements and the many awards we have won together, but my real fulfillment over the past 25 years at UMPG (as Deputy MD then MD) has come from working closely with artists, songwriters and producers when it was incredible music is created,” he said.
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