Josh Van Valkenburg named President of UMPG Nashville, as Troy Tomlinson moves into advisory role

Universal Music Publishing Group has appointed Josh Van Valkenburg as President of UMPG Nashville, with Troy Tomlinson moving from chairman and CEO to an advisory role. The change puts a publishing executive with extensive Nashville A&R experience in charge of the division’s creative operations and songwriter development.

Van Valkenburg will start on 4 January 2027, based in Nashville and reporting to UMPG chief Jody Gerson. He joins from Sony Music Publishing Nashville, where he was Executive Vice President, Creative, and previously worked alongside Tomlinson. UMPG says songwriters he has supported have earned two Grammy Awards for Best Country Song and more than 80 country radio number ones.