UMPG Promotes Maree Hamblion to Executive Vice President, A&R and Creative

Universal Music Publishing Group (UMPG) has expanded Maree Hamblion’s responsibilities across Australia and New Zealand, promoting the veteran music publisher to executive vice president, A&R and creative. 

Based in Sydney, Hamblion will oversee the company's creative strategy and talent development across both markets, with a focus on strengthening opportunities for local songwriters and producers internationally.

The promotion was announced on Monday by UMPG Managing Director, UK, and Head of Global A&R David Gray, to whom Hamblion will continue to report. It follows a series of signings under Hamblion's leadership, including a recent deal with multiple ARIA Award-winning Australian singer-songwriter and producer Tones and I.

“Australia and New Zealand have always produced extraordinary music and some of the world’s most distinctive songwriters and artists,” Gray said. “Having someone as talented as Maree leading our creative efforts on the ground, with her deep understanding of the community and how to develop talent, is incredibly important to UMPG. Maree and her team are a big part of the incredible music coming out of the region, and I’m excited about what they’re building and what comes next.”

UMPG Chairman and CEO Jody Gerson also welcomed the appointment, highlighting Hamblion's contribution to the company's regional roster and her relationships with its international A&R teams.

“Since Maree joined UMPG, she has made a tremendous creative impact on our roster in Australia and New Zealand while building strong relationships with our A&R teams around the world. She understands that developing songwriters and artists locally also means creating opportunities for them globally, and Tones and I is a perfect example of that. I’m thrilled to see Maree take on this expanded role and continue to discover and champion exceptional talent from the region.”

Hamblion joined UMPG in 2024 as Senior Vice President, A&R, bringing nearly three decades of music publishing experience to the company. During her tenure, she has added Benny Morrell, Matthew Ifield, Esha Tewari, Rupert Bullard, Ownlife and Lach Bostock to the company's roster, while also establishing several joint venture partnerships.

Those include agreements with Peach Publishing, which signed Huon Lamb-Kelly; THIS IS NOISE, which signed New Zealand songwriter and producer Harry Charles; Apple Street Music, which signed Ruby Rodgers; and Artist Labs, whose signings include Midnight Til Morning, Lane Pittman and Lime Cordiale.

Her expanded responsibilities will also include developing UMPG's creative facilities in Australia and New Zealand. Building on the company's existing LVL 4 recording studio, plans include a dedicated songwriting room and content space aimed at encouraging collaboration between writers and producers.

“Thank you to David, Jody and [UMPG COO] Marc Cimino for entrusting me with the opportunity to further develop UMPG Australia and New Zealand’s next generation of global songwriters,” Hamblion said. “Songwriters are at the heart of everything we do. I’m excited to continue building a creative hub that not only supports artistic development but also connects our writers with opportunities on a global stage.

"I’m incredibly honoured to step into my expanded role and look forward to championing our exceptional roster alongside our dedicated Sync and Administration teams.”

Before joining UMPG, Hamblion spent more than a decade at Sony/ATV Music Publishing, where she was appointed Senior Vice President, A&R in 2015. There, she helped develop the company's international A&R strategy and secured deals with Australian songwriters including Sarah Aarons, Alex Hope, Jarryd James, Gretta Ray, Isabella Kearney-Nurse, Sam Sakr, Rory Adams, Ainslie Wills and Tina Arena. Her New Zealand signings included Joel Little, Stan Walker, Alex Wildwood and Jawsh 685.

Hamblion began her publishing career at EMI Music Publishing in Sydney in 1995, spending more than 17 years working with artists and songwriters across Australia and New Zealand.

Her work during that period included collaborations with Divinyls, Jimmy Barnes, PNAU, Ladyhawke, Savage Garden, The Paper Kites, The Presets' Julian Hamilton, The McClymonts and The Veronicas.

From Variety Australia