Music Industry Moves: Universal Music Publishing Group Ups Jennifer Knoepfle to Head of U.S. A&R

Universal Music Publishing Group (UMPG) has elevated Jennifer Knoepfle to head of U.S. A&R, it was announced today by UMPG Chairman and CEO Jody Gerson, to whom Knoepfle reports. Knoepfle will continue to be based in the company’s Santa Monica headquarters and serve as an executive vice president of the company.

Knoepfle’s has also promoted A&R executives Daniella Rasho to director of global A&R and Deeba Abrishamchi to director of U.S. A&R. Additionally, she has brought Hollie Boston to the company as director of U.S. A&R.

In her elevated position, Knoepfle will expand the company’s U.S. A&R team and lead its executives in identifying, signing and nurturing new and developing songwriters, artists and producers, as well as creating and providing opportunities for legacy talent to enhance their artistry and careers. 

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Gerson said, “I am overjoyed to promote Jenn to this much-deserved position as Head of U.S A&R.  She embodies everything a creative music executive should be; she possesses the ear to identify the best artists and writers—often early in their careers—and knows how to support, nurture and amplify their talents.  Additionally, she is a thoughtful leader and mentor to our A&R team.  I couldn’t be more excited to continue working with Jenn for years to come!”

+ UnitedMasters has signed a multi-year agreement with TikTok. The latter will provide UnitedMasters’ full, expansive catalog of music on their platform, in addition to providing additional commercial opportunities to UnitedMasters artists via TikTok’s Commercial Music Library.

“Our partnership with TikTok provides UnitedMasters artists unparalleled access to a vast global audience, while TikTok creators and users gain early exposure to some of the most impactful independent music today,” said Steve Stoute, founder and CEO of UnitedMasters. “TikTok recognizes the power of music and creativity, which is why we are excited to formalize this partnership.”

“We want to make the world’s best music available to our global community of over a billion music fans,” said Ole Obermann, head of music business development at TikTok. “That’s why we are so excited to be entering into a direct deal with a prominent independent label like UnitedMasters, with its deep, diverse roster of independent artists. Together, we’re ready to amplify these voices and bring their music to a global stage, unlocking new opportunities for discovery.”

+ Sony Music Publishing Nashville has signed songwriter, producer and multi-instrumentalist Elysse Yulo. 

Originally hailing from Connecticut, Yulo is a Nashville-based artist who has worked with such acts as Quavo, Lana Del Rey, Zach John King and Maddox Batson. Her recent credits include the hit song “Tough” by Lana Del Rey and Quavo, in addition to Maddox Batson’s “Tears in the River” and “I Wanna Know,” as well as Zach John King’s “The Way I See You.”

Yulo said, “I’m so excited to have found my home here at Sony Music Publishing and to be continuing my relationship with Samantha Fisher and Sullivan Rose. Kenley Flynn has been such a champion over the last year and Sam has had my back for the last year and a half, so having Kenley and Sam together is the perfect dream team for me! I can’t wait to see what we and the entire SMP staff can achieve together!” 

Vice President, Creative A&R, Sony Music Publishing Nashville Kenley Flynn said, “Elysse is a very special talent that I couldn’t be happier to be working with. Her talents as a songwriter and producer are matched only by her work ethic and persistence. I’m so excited to help her reach new heights.”

+ Bernie Taupin, lyricist and Elton John collaborator, will receive the prestigious outstanding career achievement award during the 15th annual Hollywood Music in Media Awards (HMMA) to be held on Nov. 20, 2024 at the Avalon in Hollywood. The Hollywood Music in Media Awards honors composers, songwriters, and music supervisors around the world for their contributions over the previous year in music for film, TV, video games, and more.

Submissions for all HMMA categories are open through Oct. 31.

Taupin co-wrote the vast majority of John’s songs, including “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road,” “Bennie & the Jets,” “Tiny Dancer,” “Your Song,” “Saturday Night’s Alright for Fighting’,” and “Crocodile Rock,” to name a few. Taupin has also written for and with other artists including Heart (“These Dreams”) and Starship (“We Built This City”), among others.

Past HMMA career achievement award recipients include Marc Shaiman, Kenny Loggins, Smokey Robinson, Diane Warren, Earth Wind & Fire, Glen Campbell, Dave Mason, John Debney, and Christopher Young.

+ Digital promotion and viral marketing firm The Trenches has signed a new deal with Republic Corps Collective. Together they will work across Republic Records, Mercury Records, Island Records and Def Jam Records.

Founded in 2020 by Tom LaScola, The Trenches is the content engine behind digital campaigns for artists like Noah Kahan, Post Malone, Wyatt Flores, Conan Gray and more. In addition to the digital initiatives, The Trenches is also launching Trenches Records, an incubator that exists at the intersection between culture and data for artists as identified by the team, within the Republic Corps Collective system.

Tuesday, Oct. 22

The Zombies have inked a new deal with Q Prime who will provide label services and distribution for the band’s 1960s studio recordings. Plans are underway for a series of four definitive physical reissues in 2025, remastered from the original tapes, compiling all the band’s studio output.

The first release will be a remastered edition of “Odessey & Oracle,” due out early next year, which includes the classic songs “Time Of The Season,” “Care of Cell 44,” and “This Will Be Our Year,” among others. The album will be released in its original Mono mix, to coincide with the release of The Zombies’ documentary, “Hung Up On A Dream,” directed by musician and filmmaker Robert Schwartzman, and co-produced by Schwartzman’s Utopia Films, The Ranch Productions, and Tom Hanks’ Playtone.

Q Prime will manage all aspects of marketing, manufacturing, distribution and licensing for the Rock and Roll Hall of Famers’ new label imprint, Beechwood Park Records. Of the arrangement, Q Prime co-founder Cliff Burnstein said, “There’s a very narrow window in a Venn diagram where love, admiration and business overlap. That’s what the deal is all about.”

The Zombies’ four surviving founding members — lead singer Colin Blunstone, keyboardist Rod Argent, bassist Chris White, and drummer Hugh Grundy, along with Helen Atkinson, the widow and Estate Trustee of late guitarist Paul Atkinson — acquired the rights to their catalog last year from Marquis Enterprises Ltd., the independent UK production company they originally signed with in 1964.

Marquis had produced their early recordings, granting limited-term licenses to the labels that released their hits (Decca and CBS Records), and later turned over the production reins to primary songwriters Argent and White, who recorded “Odessey & Oracle” at Abbey Road Studios in London.

The deals were overseen by Chris Tuthill and Cindy da Silva of The Rocks Management, who together have represented the band for the past 11 years, along with attorney Monika Tashman of Loeb & Loeb.

+ AI music generator Suno — a multi-million dollar company that was recently sued by major labels for alleged copyright infringement of the majors’ music – has tapped Timbaland as a strategic advisor. Timbaland is also expected to have a role in the “product development and strategic creative direction” of new generative AI tools at Suno, per a press release.

Timbaland is described as a “top user” of the platform, with his partnership launching in the form of a new single called “Love Again.” The latter will be available exclusively on Suno. Suno users will also be able to participate in a remix contest, which will include comments from Timbaland himself and over $100,000 in prizes for winning remixes. Timbaland will also release the top two remixes of “Love Again” on streaming services, including Spotify, Apple Music and more.

+ Peter Rudge has announced his decision to step away from artist management.

Boasting over 50 years in the music industry, Rudge started out at Track Records working with Jimi Hendrix and Marc Bolan before going on to manage the Who with Bill Curbishley. He has since worked closely with and managed a variety of internationally celebrated artists including the Rolling Stones, Madness, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Il Divo, Ball & Boe, Duran Duran, Roger Waters and many more.

His focus will shift co-producing a documentary about the beginnings of the live touring business, centered around Premier Talent Agency founder Frank Barsalona, the only agent inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Rudge’s longest and most closely associated artist is the band James, whom he’s represented for over three decades from 1989 to their most recent record, “Yummy.”

Rudge said, “After 55 years in the artist management trenches, I’ve decided to call time and devote my time to family, travel and other projects, as well as Wolves and the New York Giants, who both need my help far more than any artist does right now!… The subsequent journey has been one of peaks and valleys, highs and lows, but never dull, working with artists never is.”

+ UMG Nashville has signed brothers Ocie and Wes Crowe who together, make up the country duo, Crowe Boys.

“When I first heard Crowe Boys, I knew I had to work with them,” explained UMG Nashville Chair and CEO, Cindy Mabe. “The emotional connection between brothers Ocie and Wes and the life they have lived pours from their souls, their harmonies, and their lyrics to create something so powerful that you know they are here to heal people. Their story and sound were built on the road for their entire lives, and you can feel how much their family and their story and their struggle has brought them to forefront right now. I’m incredibly moved and honored to have them join our UMGN family.”

The duo’s first release via UMG Nashville is the single “Let Me Feel Alone,” written solely by Ocie Crowe, due out Nov. 8.

+ Ricardo Arjona has signed an exclusive, worldwide distribution deal with Interscope Capitol Labels Group. The agreement was signed under Arjona’s label, Metamorfosis, which he created in 2011, meaning all of his music and future releases will fall under Interscope Capitol Labels Group.

“This partnership isn’t just a milestone—it’s a declaration of our commitment to artistry, passion, and pushing boundaries,” said Jose Cedeño, senior VP of Interscope Capitol Labels Group in Miami. “Ricardo Arjona’s music weaves deep connections between people, and together, we aim to amplify that reach.”

“We are deeply honored to welcome Ricardo Arjona to the Interscope Capitol family. As one of the most iconic artists in the Spanish-speaking world, Ricardo has shaped the musical landscape in ways that transcend generations. We are committed to promoting his emblematic catalog while partnering with him on new projects he has in the works,” said Nir Seroussi, executive VP at Interscope Capitol Labels Group.

Arjona is slated to release the first three singles of his upcoming album “Seco” in November, with two additional singles following a month later. 

+ Warner Chappell Music and Grammy-nominated and Emmy Award-winning duo, the Warren Brothers, have jointly signed a publishing deal with country music singer-songwriter Preston Cooper. The Ohio native is currently one of the special guests on country artist Riley Green’s “Damn Country Music” tour. He also has new music coming in early 2025.

+ Concord Music Publishing announced the signing of award-winning poet, singer-songwriter, and producer Kara Jackson. In collaboration with Ark Publishing, a joint venture founded by Grammy-winning producer and songwriter, Noah Goldstein, the worldwide publishing deal, effective immediately, includes Jackson’s catalog and all future works.

“I’m really honored to be working with Concord, Noah [Goldstein], and all the wonderful people on the Ark roster,” said Jackson. “I’m excited for the opportunity to grow as an artist and be guided by some of the greatest minds in the game.”

In addition to her music career, Jackson is a well know poet. Originally from Oak Park, Illinois (adjacent to Chicago), her music and poetry are inspired by the American South and her experiences growing up in Chicago. She was named the Youth Poet Laureate of Chicago in 2019 and the 2019 National Youth Poet Laureate. Jackson is also the author of the poetry book “Bloodstone Cowboy.”

Monday, Oct. 21

Jeff Jones will exit as the CEO of the Beatles’ Apple Corps Ltd after 17 years in the role, the company has announced Monday.

Apple Corps Ltd was founded in 1968 by the Beatles to control the band’s interests across music, film, publishing and more. Jones’ last efforts as CEO included spearheading the 2023 release of the final Beatles song, “Now and Then.”

Jones joined the company in 2007 following a role as an executive vice president at Sony/BMG. In a statement, the company wrote, “The whole Apple Corps family wishes Jeff Jones all the very best and would like to express our sincere gratitude for his invaluable contributions to the company and the legacy of the Beatles.”

+ Concord has purchased “key elements” of the music publishing and master recording catalog of Daddy Yankee. The deal spans songs from 2002 through 2019, including some of his most global hits: “Gasolina,” “Con Calma” and “Despacito.” Concord also owns the rights to his name, image and likeness.

The catalog will be managed out of Concord’s Miami office.

+ U.K. music supervision company 45RPM has announced the launch of a music publishing arm with the support of Universal Music Publishing Group.

“By venturing into music publishing, 45RPM will spotlight exceptionally talented composers and songwriters positioned for success in the world of Film, TV, Advertising, and Gaming,” wrote the company in a press release. “This collaboration provides a unique opportunity for composers and songwriters to benefit from dual expertise, blending the creative prowess of top music supervisors at 45RPM with the prestigious and comprehensive resources of Universal Music Publishing.”

“We are thrilled to embark on this innovative partnership with Universal Music Publishing Group,” added Ayla Owen, managing director of 45RPM. “Through this collaboration, composers and songwriters can access the best of both worlds: the specialised attention and industry insight of our seasoned music supervisors, combined with the expansive reach and legacy of Universal Music Publishing. Together, we aim to elevate the music creation process and amplify the voices of exceptional talents worldwide.”

“What we also very much hope to do in our partnership with UMPG is bring composers more into the world of creating songs and likewise help facilitate songwriters into composing music for Film and TV,” said Nick Angel, founder and director of 45RPM. “We’re perfectly placed to be a bridge for both, and would be delighted if we could in any way be a catalyst for both.”

+ FUGA has announced a new partnership with Manila-based management and production company, ASINTADA. The distributor also announced new hires across APAC, including Noorcahyo Istyabudi and Jaya Singh who will lead business development in Indonesia and South Asia respectively.

Founded in 2012, ASINTADA represents some of the local region’s hip-hop stars, including Filipino rapper, Gloc-9. As part of the wide-ranging partnership, FUGA will provide global distribution and bespoke marketing services to ASINTADA which will also benefit from access to the distributor’s trends and analytics platform.

+ Capitol Records has named Justin Grant senior VP/head of urban digital at the label. In his new role Grant will oversee the creation and execution of digital marketing campaigns on the label’s growing roster of R&B and hip-hop artists. The company’s urban roster spans the label brands Capitol, Motown and Priority Records.

Grant comes to Capitol from Atlantic Records where he served as VP of digital marketing and sports partnerships. He spent a decade at Atlantic in all, beginning his career as an intern in 2014 before joining the digital marketing team a year later. Grant will be based in New York. Additionally Capitol announced the promotion of Dante Smith to the position of head of Motown Digital. In this new role, Smith will oversee digital marketing campaigns of Motown’s roster of artists, D2C efforts, and branding of Motown Records.

Over the past four years Smith has been an integral part of the digital marketing team, working closely with such artists as Quavo, Toosi, JT, Kali Uchis, Lil Baby, Lil Yachty, Ice Spice, Queen Naija, Migos and City Girls, to name a few. Smith came to Capitol in 2020, after stints at Revolt TV and HipHopDX.

+ Rock the Vote, Gaia Music Collective and Live Nation Women are launching “Rock the Vote: Make a Beautiful Noise,” a new initiative of 20 pop-up, one-day community choirs and early voting activations across the country.

The choirs will perform “A Beautiful Noise,” the Grammy-nominated song by Alicia Keys and Brandi Carlile, celebrating the strength of collective action and the power of diverse voices united in harmony. After each event, participants will be encouraged to vote early together.

There will be no auditions or prerequisites — “just a belief in the power of community, the joy of singing together, and the importance of making your voice heard in this election,” reads a press release. Participants will receive access to the song arrangement, demo, part-specific learning tracks and digital civic engagement tools upon RSVPing. Following the choir performances, which begin on Sunday, October 20th, in New York City, attendees will have the option to head to early voting locations together.

+ Sony Music Publishing Nashville today announced it has partnered with One4 Entertainment’s Brian Wright to sign singer-songwriter Sadie Bass to a global publishing deal. Bass has been writing and recording new music, which is set to be released in early 2025.

Bass has opened for prominent artists including Brantley Gilbert, Thomas Rhett and Hank Williams Jr. She also recently performed at festivals including Rock The Country, Carolina Music Festival, Tortuga, and Faster Horses in her home state of Michigan. Additionally, she was featured on season 22 of “The Voice.”

+ Universal Music Group Nashville has promoted Damon Moberly to the position of senior VP of promotion, effective immediately. Moberly most recently served as senior VP and head of the Mercury Nashville radio promo team.

“Damon is such a champion of great artists and songs,” said UMGN chair and CEO Cindy Mabe. “His passion for music and his skillset of building people and teams makes him the perfect person to lead our promotion team to new depths. I’m honored to have Damon in this new role.”