A FIRST FOR UMPG NASHVILLE: A CEO

Troy Tomlinson is leaving Sony/ATV Music Publishing to become the first Chairman and CEO of Universal Music Publishing Group Nashville.

On 7/15, Tomlinson will join UMPG’s global senior management team with responsibility for the entirety of UMPG’s Nashville operations, including providing leadership to UMPG’s Tennessee-based royalty operations and Christian division. Tomlinson will also be a key creative voice throughout Universal Music Group. He will report to UMPG Chairman and CEO Jody Gerson.

“Troy’s track record in Nashville is the stuff of legend,” Gerson said. “He is simply one of the best and most successful creative executives the Nashville publishing community has ever seen. And having worked closely with him during my time at Sony, I know firsthand of his ability to take a promising songwriter with a song and turn them into a career artist.”

Sir Lucian Grainge, Chairman and CEO of Universal Music Group, said, “When it comes to identifying great songs, songwriters and artists, Troy is one of Nashville’s finest. I’m looking forward to him joining us at this pivotal time as we continue to build a home for songwriters like no other, one focused on long term careers and creating global opportunities.”

Tomlinson joined Sony/ATV Music Publishing in 2002 as Vice President of Creative, rising to President and CEO in 2005. During his tenure he oversaw the songwriting careers of artists such as Taylor Swift, Kenny Chesney, Miranda Lambert and others.

In addition to Sony/ATV Music Publishing’s writer/artists, Tomlinson guided the careers of songwriters Josh Osborne, Chris DeStefano, Ross Copperman, Bill Anderson, Bobby Braddock and Tom Douglas, among many others. He was responsible for stewarding the song catalogs of Hank Williams, Dolly Parton, Willie Nelson, Kris Kristofferson and others.

Sony/ATV Music Publishing Nashville has been named BMI’s Publisher of the Year for an unprecedented 16 consecutive years.

Previously, Tomlinson was an EVP at Acuff-Rose Music Publishing where he discovered Chesney. He ran the Nashville division of Fame Music Group, the company founded by Rick Hall.

“For me, this is the right time and UMPG is the right place to channel my energy and passion to build something entirely new and dynamic for Nashville’s songwriting community,” Tomlinson said. “I’ve long admired Jody even before I had the opportunity to work with her at Sony, and to see what she’s achieved at Universal and the culture she’s created in just the few years since she joined is nothing short of inspiring.”

UMPG EVP/GM Kent Earls will be leaving the company where he has worked for more than 21 years.

“I’m very proud of our many accomplishments while at the helm,” he said in a statement. “The true joy was either signing, developing and furthering the careers of incredibly talented songwriters like Luke Laird, Rivers Rutherford, Chase McGill, Lori Mckenna, Natalie Hemby, Shane McAnally, Andrew Dorff and songwriter-artists like Sam Hunt, Keith Urban, Kane Brown, Chris Young, Maren Morris and so many more.

"I am also so proud of the staff we assembled in my time there—they are second to none and are the reason we achieved so many highs. I love the Nashville music industry and community and [am] excited to see what the future holds.”