Sunita Kaur named President, Asia, for Universal Music Publishing Group

Sunita Kaur has been named President, Asia, for Universal Music Publishing Group (UMPG).

The news was announced today (June 1) by UMPG Chairman & CEO Jody Gerson, to whom Kaur reports.

According to the announcement, based in Singapore, Kaur will oversee the company’s operations across the continent, “driving sustainable growth, strengthening UMPG’s presence in key markets, and helping to shape a more connected, inclusive, and forward-looking music ecosystem”.

The press release added that “Kaur will focus on supporting and amplifying the voices of songwriters and artists, ensuring they have the platforms, partnerships, and protections they need to thrive”.

Kaur said: “I’m grateful to Jody [Gerson] and Marc [Cimino, Chief Operating Officer at UMPG] for the opportunity to join UMPG at such an exciting time for the company and for music across Asia. Having worked across both music and technology throughout my career, joining UMPG feels like a natural and exciting next chapter as those worlds continue to come together in new and powerful ways.

“Asia is at a defining moment for the global music ecosystem, and I look forward to working with our teams across the region to drive the next phase of growth and opportunity for songwriters.”

“Asia is at a defining moment for the global music ecosystem, and I look forward to working with our teams across the region to drive the next phase of growth and opportunity for songwriters.”

Sunita Kaur

In announcing the appointment of Kaur, Jody Gerson said: “Asia represents one of the most exciting and important regions for the future of music publishing, and I’m thrilled that an executive of Sunita’s experience and depth is joining UMPG to lead our continued growth in the region.”

“She has a deep understanding of the evolving digital landscape and the opportunities it creates for songwriters, and her leadership and relationships across the region will be invaluable as we continue supporting and championing the next generation of songwriters.”

Jody Gerson

Added Gerson: “She has a deep understanding of the evolving digital landscape and the opportunities it creates for songwriters, and her leadership and relationships across the region will be invaluable as we continue supporting and championing the next generation of songwriters.”

Cimino said: “Sunita brings to the company an exceptional combination of strategic insight, operational experience and deep relationships across the region.

“Her experience working across both music and technology gives her a valuable perspective on how our business is evolving, and she is exceptionally well positioned to lead this next phase of our work across Asia. I’m proud to welcome her to the UMPG leadership team.”

“Her experience working across both music and technology gives her a valuable perspective on how our business is evolving, and she is exceptionally well positioned to lead this next phase of our work across Asia. I’m proud to welcome her to the UMPG leadership team.”

Marc Cimino

Kaur, according to UMPG, “is a highly regarded executive with deep experience across the music, digital media, and technology sectors, having played key roles in the growth of major global platforms and in the expansion of music streaming and creator ecosystems across Asia”.

Over the past three years, alongside her role as Executive-in-Residence at Singapore Management University, Kaur has been actively consulting across the music industry on a range of strategic initiatives for music platforms, labels and venture capital firms.

She served as Senior Vice President, Asia Pacific at the global live-streaming platform Twitch from 2020 through 2023. In that role, Kaur led the region’s profit-and-loss operations and drove growth across strategic content partnerships, business development, and marketing initiatives.

Earlier in her career, Kaur spent nearly seven years at Spotify in a number of senior executive roles, including Vice President, Revenue, Asia Pacific from 2017 through 2019, where she oversaw the company’s regional revenue strategy and commercial partnerships.

Prior to that, she served as Managing Director, Southeast Asia from 2013 through 2017, helping guide Spotify’s early expansion and market launches across the region.

Before joining Spotify, Kaur held leadership roles including Director, Asia at Facebook from 2011 through 2013, Associate Director, Singapore & International Accounts at Microsoft from 2009 through 2011, and Advertising Director, Asia Pacific & Middle East at Forbes from 2006 through 2009, following earlier roles with Singapore Press Holdings and Time Inc., where she began building her career across media, advertising, and digital platforms in the Asia Pacific region.Music Business Worldwide