David Gray has been promoted to managing director, UK and head of global A&R for Universal Music Publishing Group.
Gray will relocate to London from New York in January. He reports to UMPG chairman & CEO Jody Gerson.
UMPG UK managing director Mike McCormack is stepping down after eight years in charge at the British business. He has established a consultancy and formed a joint venture with UMPG.
In his new position, Gray is responsible for overseeing all departments in the management and creative direction of the company’s UK office. He will identify and expand local and global creative opportunities for UMPG songwriters, artists and producers, lead the UK team in identifying, signing and developing early rising talent, and support legacy talent by securing opportunities to strengthen and enhance their catalogues.
Jody Gerson said: “David is one of the best creative A&R executives I have ever known, and he is integral to our global approach and success. His talent for identifying and building careers for songwriters, artists and producers is second to none, and his leadership and mentorship of the next generation of publishers is a quality I admire tremendously. I am delighted to promote David to this new role.”
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. Among the many songwriters, artists and producers he has signed to the company are Sabrina Carpenter, Stephen Sanchez, Julia Michaels, Shawn Mendes, Nick Jonas, Joe Jonas and Demi Lovato.
He and Gerson envisioned and formed the company’s Global Creative Group in 2022 to create and connect opportunities for songwriters, producers, artists and executives on a global scale.
David is one of the best creative A&R executives I have ever known
Jody Gerson
Some of the hit songs and album projects involving UMPG songwriters and producers that have already emerged as a direct result of the Global Creative Group include: Colombian artist Feid and American hip-hop producer ATL Jacob’s Luna, which topped the charts in numerous countries; Brazilian artist Luísa Sonza, whose album Escandalo Intimo was co-helmed by Brazilian and US producers and became the third biggest debut of a female Latin album in the history of Spotify, as well as featuring a collaboration with Demi Lovato, Penhasco2, which broke the record for the biggest debut in the history of Spotify Brazil; and Italian artist Mahmood’s recent No.1 album Nei Letti Delgi Altri, which has four songs written with UMPG France writers, charted in France, Germany, Sweden and Portugal, and was No.5 on the Spotify global album debut chart.
I would like to thank Mike McCormack for his many contributions to UMPG through the years… I am delighted he will continue to be part of the UMPG family
Jody Gerson
Jody Gerson added: “I would like to thank Mike McCormack for his many contributions to UMPG through the years and especially for his leadership during his eight years as our UK MD. I value him greatly as a friend and colleague. I am delighted he will continue to be part of the UMPG family.”
David Gray said: “I want to thank Jody for her constant belief in me and for shaping a company built upon A&R, creativity, and a belief in songwriters and artists that is at the heart of our ethos. I am so excited to work with the incredible UK team, including our great head of A&R Pete Simmons, and build upon the success achieved by Mike McCormack, who will continue his stellar contributions to our company through his new joint venture.”
Mke McCormack said: “David embodies everything I could hope for in my successor at UMPG UK. He’s a creative leader, first and foremost, and understands the global A&R philosophy that Jody has instilled in our company since the first day of her tenure. He’s signed the biggest breakthrough artist in the world this year, Sabrina Carpenter. Most importantly, he’s a great guy and will no doubt prove that he can lead the UK as well as he’s led his A&R team in the US.”
Gray joined UMPG in 2013, soon becoming EVP/head of West Coast A&R and then co-head of A&R for the US as well. He previously held posts as an A&R executive at Zomba and at Sony Music International, and served as senior A&R at Simon Cowell’s Syco Music, where he developed artists signed to the label via TV shows X Factor and the Got Talent franchise.
Prior to becoming a music executive, Gray was signed to UMPG as lead singer of the band Idle Wilds (RCA Records).
McCormack became UMPG managing director UK in 2016, after serving three years in an advisory role to the company. Under his watch, UMPG UK won the Publisher Of The Year trophy at the Music Week Awards in 2023, 2021 and 2019.
McCormack previously worked alongside Simon Fuller at 19 on various sports and music projects, and as director of A&R at RCA Records.
Earlier in his career, McCormack led the A&R team at Virgin Music Publishing. He first joined UMPG’s UK business in 1999 as deputy managing director.
PHOTOS: UMPG/KMC Photography
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