Universal Music Publishing Group (UMPG) has promoted Jennifer Knoepfle to Head of US A&R, marking a significant leadership change within the company.
The announcement was made by UMPG President and CEO Jody Gerson on October 22, with Knoepfle reporting directly to Gerson. In her new role, Knoepfle will oversee the US A&R operations while continuing to hold her position as the company's Executive Vice President.
In this expanded role, Knoepfle is charged with nurturing UMPG's creative culture and developing talent by identifying, signing and nurturing new songwriters, producers and artists.
Her efforts will also extend to legacy artists, ensuring UMPG remains a leader in catalog development and creating contemporary hits. She will be based at the company's headquarters in Santa Monica.
“I am very pleased to promote Jenn to this well-deserved position as head of US A&R. It embodies everything a creative music executive should be. he has an ear for spotting the best artists and writers—often early in their careers—and knows how to support, nurture and enhance their talents. Additionally, she is a thought leader and mentor to our A&R team. I couldn't be more excited to continue working with Jenn for years to come!”
As part of her expanded duties, Knoepfle has also appointed three executives to key positions in the US A&R team. Daniella Rasho has been promoted to Director of Global A&R, while Deeba Abrishamchi has been appointed Director of US A&R. Hollie Boston has also joined the company as Director of US A&R.
Knoepfle commented, “Every day, I am humbled to work alongside some of the most respected musical talents in the world. I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to expand my role at UMPG, where I have the privilege of working with one of the best executives in the business, Jody Gerson. I couldn't be more excited to take on this new chapter, growing our incredible A&R team and working with them to pursue my greatest passion: discovering and nurturing talent, which remains the lifeblood of our industry.”
Knoepfle joined UMPG in 2022 as EVP and co-head of US A&R. Since then, he has signed a diverse roster of talent, including notable songwriters and artists such as Jack Antonoff, Lord Huron, Maggie Rogers and Wallows. Prior to UMPG, he spent 13 years at Sony Music Publishing, where he worked with artists such as Leon Bridges, Tate McRae and Noah Kahan. Earlier in her career, she served as a senior director at ASCAP, where she brought major talent such as The Killers and Greg Kurstin to the organization.
UMPG continues to build its global presence with 48 offices in 40 countries, representing a huge catalog of iconic songs and hit makers, with some of the artists represented including Adele, Billie Eilish, Bob Dylan and The Weeknd.
from our partners at https://www.billboard.com/pro/umpg-jennifer-knoepfle-promoted-head-of-u-s-aampr/