Universal Music Group announced that Bruce Resnikoff, President and CEO of Universal Music Enterprises (UMe), the global catalog division of UMG, has been promoted to UMe’s Chairman. At the same time, Jamie Krents has been promoted to President and CEO of UMe, in addition to his current role as President and CEO of UMG’s Verve Label Group.
A 40-year UMG veteran, Resnikoff will focus on expanding UMe’s activities including estate management, as well as acquiring name and likeness, recorded music, and audiovisual rights of artists and catalogs, according to the announcement. He will also continue to work with and advise UMG artists with whom he has deep and long term relationships at UMe.
In Krents’ new role at UMe, he will “accelerate the development of progressive campaigns using the latest advances in digital and direct-to-fan marketing.”
Lucian Grainge, Chairman & CEO of UMG, said, “Bruce is a brilliant executive who defined the modern catalog business, always evolving new ways of championing iconic recordings and the world’s most influential artists. He established UMe and built it into the industry’s most successful catalog division, so I’m delighted he’s taking on this new role to help us expand into exciting new areas. Bruce and Jamie already share a strong partnership, and Jamie’s inventiveness and artist-first approach make him an ideal leader to further strengthen UMe.”
Resnikoff founded UMe in 1998, after the merger of PolyGram and Universal. Resnikoff started at the company in 1983, joining MCA Records in Business and Legal Affairs. Three years later, he was named Director of MCA Music Entertainment Group’s Special Markets and Products Division. He then held increasingly senior positions, before being appointed Executive Vice President in 1995. The following year, he founded Hip-O Records, a label primarily focused on reissues and compilations; he also served as President & CEO of Verve Records from 2008 until 2011.
Krents has served his entire executive career at UMG. A professional bassist, he started at Verve as a temp between tours in 1998, and eventually worked his way up to President and CEO of Verve Label Group in 2024. Under his watch the company has won Grammys with Jon Batiste (a five-time winner in 2023), Samara Joy and others.
From Variety US
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