Josh Van Valkenburg named President of UMPG Nashville, as Troy Tomlinson moves into advisory role

Universal Music Publishing Group (UMPG) has appointed Josh Van Valkenburg as President of UMPG Nashville, the company announced on Tuesday (November 10).

Van Valkenburg joins from Sony Music Publishing Nashville, where he was most recently Executive Vice President, Creative.

In a concurrent move, UMPG Nashville Chairman and CEO Troy Tomlinson is transitioning to an exclusive advisory role with the company.

Van Valkenburg will take up his new position on January 4, 2027.

He will be based in Nashville and will report to UMPG Chairman and CEO Jody Gerson.

In the role, he will lead the division’s management and creative operations, including the signing and development of new songwriting talent and support for its existing roster of songwriters, artists, and producers.

The company says Van Valkenburg will seek to strengthen its ties across Nashville’s creative community and to widen the reach of its songwriters in country music and other genres.

He will also look for new opportunities for UMPG Nashville‘s established writers and their catalogs.

“Country music is more global today than at any time in its history, and the opportunities for Nashville’s songwriters have never been greater,” said Gerson. “Josh brings the vision, ambition and leadership skills to build on that momentum, along with deep relationships throughout the creative community and a gift for identifying and developing exceptional songwriters.

“I’m thrilled to welcome him to UMPG and look forward to all he and our Nashville team will accomplish together.”

Van Valkenburg launched his music publishing career at EMI Music Publishing in 2006, according to UMPG, and joined its A&R team as Creative Manager in 2008.

When a Sony-led consortium acquired EMI Music Publishing in 2012, he became Creative Director at Sony/ATV, whose Nashville operation was then run by Tomlinson as President and CEO.

In 2015, Tomlinson promoted him to Senior Vice President, Nashville A&R, putting him in charge of signings and Sony/ATV’s Nashville creative team. He later held the title of Senior Vice President, Creative.

“Country music is more global today than at any time in its history, and the opportunities for Nashville’s songwriters have never been greater.”

Jody Gerson, Universal Music Publishing Group

Sony Music Publishing promoted him to EVP, Creative, in 2021, with responsibility for A&R strategy and songwriter development across its Nashville roster.

Songwriters he has signed and championed, according to UMPG, include 2021 ASCAP Country Music Songwriter of the Year Josh Osborne, four-time BMI Country Songwriter of the Year Ross Copperman, and 2023 SESAC Songwriter of the Year Jon Nite.

The list also includes Chris DeStefano, Natalie Hemby of The Highwomen, Matt Rogers, and Lindsay Rimes.

UMPG says the songwriters Van Valkenburg has backed have won two Grammy Awards for Best Country Song and scored more than 80 No. 1 radio singles.

At the time of his 2021 promotion, Sony Music Publishing put the number of country radio No. 1s from his signings at more than 70.

He has also worked on the careers of artists including Ella Langley, Lainey Wilson, Thomas Rhett, and Brett Eldredge.

Van Valkenburg sits on the Country Music Association (CMA) Board of Directors and is an alumni advisor for Leadership Music.

“Jody Gerson is an exceptional leader who remains steadfastly passionate about fighting for creatives and their art,” said Van Valkenburg. “I’m grateful for her trust and the opportunity to lead UMPG Nashville into its next chapter.

“Timeless songs and brilliant songwriters are the foundation of our business, and I’m excited to work with our Nashville team to recognize exceptional talent, champion creativity and help songwriters realize their full potential.”

Josh Van Valkenburg

“Timeless songs and brilliant songwriters are the foundation of our business, and I’m excited to work with our Nashville team to recognize exceptional talent, champion creativity and help songwriters realize their full potential. Building on UMPG Nashville‘s incredible legacy means embracing new ways of doing business while strengthening our place among the world’s great creative communities.

“I want to honor Troy Tomlinson for his genuine love of songwriters, his willingness to share his wisdom and experience with the many of us who look up to him, and his long-standing leadership within UMPG and the greater Nashville creative community.”

Tomlinson joined UMPG from Sony/ATV in 2019 as the first Chairman and CEO of its Nashville division.

He had served as President and CEO of Sony/ATV Nashville from 2005, having joined the company in 2002.

Before that, he spent 15 years at Acuff-Rose Music Publishing, where he rose to Executive Vice President, according to UMPG.

He had earlier led the Nashville division of Fame Music Group.

UMPG credits Tomlinson with helping to guide the careers of artists including Taylor Swift, Kenny Chesney, Megan Moroney, Keith Urban, Luke Bryan, Brooks & Dunn, and Kelsea Ballerini.

Chesney, whom Tomlinson discovered early in his time at Acuff-Rose, signed an exclusive global publishing agreement with UMPG in May 2020, less than a year after Tomlinson‘s own arrival.

Tomlinson‘s honors include the CMA Songwriter Advocate Award, which he received in 2024, and Belmont University’s Robert E. Mulloy Award of Excellence, presented in 2016.

“Having worked with Troy for nearly 15 years, first at Sony and then at UMPG, has been a gift, and I’m deeply grateful for his leadership and friendship,” said Gerson. “He is loved and respected throughout Nashville by the songwriters and artists he’s championed and, equally, by his countless colleagues across the industry.

“Troy is an icon in the Nashville and publishing communities, and I’m thrilled that, as he eases into retirement after such an illustrious career, he’s agreed to stay on as an advisor and continue sharing his wisdom and experience with us.”

“Reuniting with Jody, an extraordinary leader and dear friend, has been deeply rewarding, and I’m proud of what we’ve built together,” said Tomlinson. “I’m also grateful to our Nashville team for their never-ending passion and commitment to songwriters.

“Having brought Josh onto our creative team at Sony/ATV many years back, I know firsthand his ear for songs, eye for talent and deep understanding of music publishing.”

Troy Tomlinson, Universal Music Publishing Group

“Having brought Josh onto our creative team at Sony/ATV many years back, I know firsthand his ear for songs, eye for talent and deep understanding of music publishing. I’m thrilled Josh will lead UMPG Nashville and confident he’ll take this team to new heights.

“After more than four decades in music publishing, I’m looking forward to more time with my family, especially spoiling my grandsons, and I’m deeply grateful to my wife for the love and care she’s given us all.”

The Nashville change follows a leadership transition at UMPG in Asia earlier this year.

In June, UMPG named Sunita Kaur, a former Spotify and Twitch executive, as President, Asia, reporting to Gerson.

The appointment came as Andrew Jenkins, President of Australia and the Asia Pacific Region, announced his departure after nearly two decades with the company.

Before that, in October 2024, UMPG said Mike McCormack would step down as its UK Managing Director to set up a consultancy and form a joint venture with the company.

He was succeeded by David Gray, who was promoted to Managing Director, UK and Head of Global A&R, also reporting to Gerson.

UMPG’s parent, Universal Music Group (UMG), reported Music Publishing revenues of €590 million (USD $678.8m) for Q3 2026, up 7.5% YoY at constant currency.

Excluding the contribution of Downtown Music Holdings, which UMG acquired in February, publishing revenues grew 1.5% YoY at constant currency.Music Business Worldwide