UMPG
Pete Simmons to Lead A&R at Universal Music Publishing Group in UK
Universal Music Publishing Group (UMPG) has announced the promotion of Pete Simmons to head of A&R, UK. He will report to the managing director, Mike McCormack. Simmons is the major publisher’s third new high-level A&R appointment in recent weeks, following news that Jennifer Knoepfle will become evp, co-head of U.S. A&R and David Gray, co-head of U.S. A&R, will also take on duties as UMPG’s Global Creative Group. (The Global Creative Group has been described as a new initiative by the publisher to identify and expand global creative opportunities for its signees). Simmons has been at the company since 2014 when he joined as an A&R scout. Since then, the young A&R has helped sign and develop top talents like Rex Orange County, Tom Misch, Thundercat, Four Tet, Bicep,...
Lin-Manuel Miranda to Receive NMPA Songwriter Icon Award for 2022
Lin-Manuel Miranda will receive the National Music Publishers’ Association’s (NMPA) Songwriter Icon Award at its 2022 annual meeting, the organization announced Monday (May 23), while the keynote speech will be delivered by Universal Music Group chairman and CEO Sir Lucian Grainge. The annual meeting is being held at Lincoln Center on June 15, marking the first in-person iteration of the event since 2019. Manuel’s honor this year feels timely, arriving on the heels of his surprising Hot 100 No. 1 hit “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” from Disney’s Encanto soundtrack. NMPA president and CEO David Israelite says in a statement that the composer possesses “inimitable style and passion [that] continues to enrich our cultural landscape.” As the first-ever theatrically focused Songwriter Icon rec...
