Josh Van Valkenburg Named President of UMPG Nashville

Chairman and CEO Troy Tomlinson transitions into an advisory role

Josh Van Valkenburg has been appointed President of Universal Music Publishing Group (UMPG) Nashville, effective January 4, 2027. In a concurrent move, longtime UMPG Nashville Chairman & CEO Troy Tomlinson transitions to an exclusive advisory role.

The role:

Van Valkenburg will oversee the management and creative direction of UMPG Nashville, leading the team in identifying, signing and developing emerging talent and supporting its existing roster of songwriters, artists and producers.
He will deepen the company’s relationships throughout Nashville’s creative community, expand opportunities for its songwriters in country music and beyond, and create new avenues for established writers and their catalogs.
Based in Nashville, he will report to UMPG Chairman & CEO Jody Gerson.

Backstory:

Van Valkenburg was most recently Executive Vice President, Creative at Sony Music Publishing Nashville.
Over the course of his career he has signed and championed accomplished Nashville songwriters such as Josh Osborne, Ross Copperman, Jon Nite, and Diamond-selling songwriter and producer Lindsay Rimes, while being involved in the careers of Ella Langley, Lainey Wilson, Thomas Rhett, and more.
Songwriters he has worked with have earned two GRAMMY Awards for Best Country Song, multiple CMA, ACM and NSAI Awards, and more than 80 No. 1 radio singles.

Tomlinson’s legacy:

Tomlinson has served as Chairman and CEO of UMPG Nashville since 2019, having previously worked as President and CEO of Sony/ATV Nashville and, prior, spending 15 years at Acuff-Rose Music Publishing, where he became Executive Vice President.
Over more than four decades he has helped guide the careers of Taylor Swift, Kenny Chesney, Megan Moroney, Keith Urban, Luke Bryan, Brooks & Dunn, Kelsea Ballerini and more, while nurturing hit songwriters including Chase McGill, Tom Douglas, Tony Lane, and Rodney Crowell.

What they said:

Jody Gerson, UMPG Chairman & CEO: “Country music is more global today than at any time in its history, and the opportunities for Nashville’s songwriters have never been greater. 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.”
She added: “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. 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.”