UMPG Hires Performing Rights Special Advisor

Universal Music Publishing Group (UMPG) has tapped Richard Conlon to serve as Special Advisor on Performing Rights. Conlon is well versed in the field, having spent more than 20 years with BMI, most recently as Sr. Vice President, Corporate Strategy, Communications & New Media. Conlon will counsel UMPG on matters related to advocating, protecting and maximizing the value of performing rights.
He previously spearheaded BMI’s digital new media licensing divisions and directed global communications efforts. During his tenure with the performing rights organization, he launched both the corporate strategy and digital business units, licensing the rights to more than 8.5 million musical works and generating hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue. Conlon also managed negotiations with digital properties ranging from YouTube to Spotify and Pandora. Under his management, licensed properties grew to more than 10,000 sites and digital income consistently drove corporate revenue growth.
In the new role, he will report to Michael J. Sammis, UMPG EVP Operations and CFO, and David Kokakis, SVP/Head of Business & Legal Affairs and Business Development. Sammis said, “It is, indeed, an interesting time in the evolution of the performing rights business and Richard’s expertise in developing systems and strategy will be extremely valuable towards maximizing the value of performing rights for UMPG and its songwriters.”