Universal Music Group’s Global Classics and Jazz Division appoints Natasha Baldwin to new leadership position as President, Global Classics, Jazz & Screen

26 November 2024 - Press release

  

Universal Music Group’s Global Classics & Jazz (GCJ) division has today announced the appointment of Natasha Baldwin to the newly-created leadership role of President, Global Classics, Jazz & Screen, effective immediately. This title reflects her unique dual position: she will continue her work within Universal Music Publishing Group (UMPG), where she is currently Executive Vice President of Classics & Screen, leading UMPG’s global classical and screen composer businesses. She will also take on an expanded remit for GCJ’s world-leading classical and jazz record labels including Decca, Deutsche Grammophon, Blue Note, Verve, Hyperion and ECM. Baldwin will oversee the international strategy for GCJ’s exceptional roster of artists which includes Andrea Bocelli, Max Richter, Jon Batiste, Samara Joy, Ludovico Einaudi, Lang Lang, Lise Davidsen and many more.

Based in London, Baldwin will report jointly to Jody Gerson, UMPG Chairman and CEO, Marc Cimino, UMPG Chief Operating Officer, and Dickon Stainer, in his role as Chairman of Global Classics & Jazz, following his elevation to Chairman and CEO of Universal Music UK. This strategic appointment will provide an unprecedented degree of creative synergies between recorded music and publishing.

Dickon Stainer says: “Tash is uniquely experienced to lead these genres of music into a new era. Her cross-disciplinary skills in publishing and recording will offer a new and dynamic perspective to our artists and our many global partners.”

Marc Cimino comments: “Jody and I are delighted for Tash that she will have this expanded key role in the company.  With her extraordinary skillset and relationships, we have no doubt that our business will excel with her leading the charge in this space.  We look forward to working closely with Dickon to provide her with all our support.”

Natasha Baldwin says: “It is a great thrill and privilege to be asked to take on this new role, working with the extraordinary Global Classics & Jazz artists whilst continuing to lead our market leading Classics & Screen Group at UMPG. Bringing publishing and records closer together serves only to create the best environment for artists and composers to develop and flourish and truly gives us the ability to amplify their voices in every arena.”

Since joining UMG in 2016 to launch Decca Publishing, Natasha Baldwin has led the company to huge success in signing and representing some of the world’s greatest composers: from Max Richter and Clint Mansell to Isobel Waller-Bridge and Will Gregory. She took over at the helm of UMPG Classics and Screen in 2021 and has been responsible for overseeing a broad roster of world-class screen composers, including Nicholas Britell, Jerskin Fendrix, Emile Mosseri, Amelia Warner and Andrew Lloyd Webber, alongside iconic catalogues such as Ricordi, Durand/Salabert-Eschig and EMB which includes composers from Puccini and Poulenc to David Lang and Kevin Puts. Throughout her career, Baldwin has championed cross-genre collaborations between composers and mainstream pop writers, providing unique opportunities for artist development and international growth for a host of next-generation talent such as Afrodeutsche and Kelly Lee Owens.

The creation of this new, dual GCJ role for Baldwin reflects Universal Music’s ongoing to commitment to classical and jazz artists and composers, and aims to provide a broader approach to their global artistry as boundaries between genres continue to evolve.