Universal Music Publishing Group (UMPG) has promoted David Kokakis to Executive Vice President/Head of Business & Legal Affairs, Business Development and Digital.
The promotion was announced by Marc Cimino, Chief Operating Officer of UMPG, to whom Kokakis reports.
Previously Senior Vice President / Head of Business & Legal Affairs and Business Development, Kokakis has led UMPG’s business affairs in North America since 2011.
In this expanded role, he will contribute to shaping UMPG’s international digital strategies, handling government relations and public policy matters, and overseeing the company’s legal affairs, litigation matters and negotiation of digital and core publishing deals.
He was recently elected to the Board of Directors of the Canadian Music Publishers Association and to the Board of Directors of the Canadian Musical Reproduction Rights Agency.
“David exemplifies all the quality traits we want at UMPG.”
Marc Cimino, UMPG
“David has proven not to just be a leader within UMPG, but a leader in our industry who consistently looks at new ways to move the music business forward while always staying true to UMPG’s core of maximizing value for our songwriters around the world. He exemplifies all the quality traits that we want at UMPG, and we couldn’t be happier to announce this well-deserved promotion,” said Cimino.
“It is an honor to collaborate with a team that is so progressive, principled in its business practices and fiercely committed to protecting the rights of creators,” said Kokakis. “I am grateful to Jody and Marc for entrusting me with additional responsibilities, and look forward to helping ensure that UMPG remains the best home for songwriters in the industry.”
During Kokakis’ tenure with the company, he has handled negotiations with Apple Music, Google Play, YouTube, Amazon and Pandora, and start-ups such as Genius, SoundCloud and Music.ly.
He has also handled negotiations with artists, songwriters and publishers, including Billy Joel, Imagine Dragons, Justin Timberlake, Justin Bieber, Eminem, Selena Gomez, Nick Jonas, Joe Jonas, Demi Lovato, J Cole, Jeff Bhasker, Luke Laird, Future, Cash Money, Glassnote, Sugar Hill Publishing, as well as Warner Bros Pictures and NBC Universal.
Kokakis was recently named to both the Billboard “2016 Digital Powerplayers” list and the Billboard “2016 Top Music Industry Lawyers” list.
With over 20 years of experience in the entertainment industry, Kokakis practiced entertainment law for over a decade at various firms, including Greenberg Traurig, and also served as an executive for several years at branding and talent management companies whose clients included television celebrities, entertainers, authors, book publishing imprints and professional athletes.Music Business Worldwide
