Universal Music Publishing Group (UMPG) has launched a new brand identity centred on songwriters and the cultural power of songwriting. Announced on Tuesday, the rebrand includes a redesigned logo, a visual system, a purpose statement, and a refreshed website. The logo features four corners symbolising the global reach of songwriters, with a circular space at the centre intended to frame artists and creators. Jody Gerson, Chairman and CEO of UMPG, said the brand reflects the enduring impact of songs across generations and formats. "Everything in music starts with a songwriter," Gerson stated. "Our new brand is about celebrating the enduring power of songwriting and giving it a clear voice, a lasting home, and a stronger future."
The company's purpose statement reads: "Universal Music Publishing Group exists to advance the collaborative, personal, human act of creating songs. We get songs heard. We get songwriters paid. Wherever songs go, we are a world ahead." A shortened version, "Wherever songs go, We're a world ahead," accompanies the new logo. The identity aims to unify UMPG's global teams and clarify their role in supporting songwriters. The rebrand was developed with creative agency GrandArmy, known for work with A24, NPR, and Adidas. UMPG's in-house Audio Branding team created a sonic identity for the animated logo.
A new video series, Publishing 101, launches June 16, featuring UMPG team members explaining industry topics such as A&R, sync licensing, royalties, and administration. Episodes will be released every Tuesday at 9 a.m. PT on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube. The rebrand follows Gerson's speech at the Music Business UK Awards in November, where she accepted the International Executive of the Year award and emphasised her commitment to protecting human songwriters in the age of artificial intelligence.
Jody Gerson champions the protection of human songwriters against AI while leading a global corporate rebrand that turns creative labour into a marketing asset. The campaign celebrates songwriters but does not state any change in how they are compensated or contractually protected. If the goal is to safeguard human creativity, the absence of new financial or legal safeguards undermines the message. A brand refresh cannot substitute for structural support.
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