Music Industry Moves: UMPG Inks The Marías to Global Publishing Deal

Universal Music Publishing Group (UMPG), a global leader in music rights management, has entered into an exclusive worldwide publishing deal with The Marías. The Latin Grammy-nominated ensemble, celebrated for its unique blend of psychedelic rock, jazz, and Latin styles, includes lead vocalist María Zardoya from Atlanta, Los Angeles-based drummer Josh Conway, guitarist Jesse Perlman, and keyboardist Edward James. Zardoya expressed the group's enthusiasm, noting, "Meeting with Jen, Ana Rosa, and Jody Gerson convinced us they are the perfect partners to guide our songwriting evolution. We're delighted to become part of the UMPG family."

This new alliance comes at a crucial time for the band, which has built a loyal following since its inception. In addition to their collective work, Zardoya recently released her first solo project, "Melt," under the moniker Not for Radio. The Marías have also collaborated with major artists like Bad Bunny, Selena Gomez, and Benny Blanco, and previously opened for Billie Eilish on her sold-out arena tour. UMPG executives Jennifer Knoepfle and Ana Rosa Santiago praised the band’s distinct creative identity and devoted audience, saying, "We are thrilled to collaborate with them during such an exciting phase of their career."

In other industry news, the Songwriters of North America (SONA) held its Warrior Awards on October 12th in Los Angeles. Honorees included the legendary production team Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis—the masterminds behind Janet Jackson’s classic 1980s albums—alongside emerging artist Chappell Roan, attorney Dina LaPolt, Primary Wave Music founder Larry Mestel, and the nonprofit Girls Make Beats. The 2025 Emerging Songwriter Warrior Award, backed by YouTube Songwriters, went to Toby Lightman. The event featured a surprise performance by Linda Perry, the songwriter behind hits like Christina Aguilera’s "Beautiful," and was hosted by songwriters Bonnie McKee and Shane Stevens.

On the independent front, Rebellion Records has forged a major seven-figure strategic partnership with music technology company Too Lost. Founded just two years ago by artist/CEO Michael Turner (known professionally as PLVTINUM) and COO Daniel Nall, Rebellion has quickly proven adept at launching new talent. For example, signee Chris Grey saw his monthly Spotify listeners surge from 100,000 to over six million and received a JUNO Award nomination in his debut year with the label. Another Rebellion artist, Vana, scored a number one single, "Beg," on Octane Radio. Gregory Hirschhorn, CEO of Too Lost, praised Rebellion’s "forward-thinking approach to artist development through strategic social media engagement." Michael Turner explained that the collaboration combines Too Lost’s distribution resources with Rebellion’s "viral engine," allowing them to sign culturally resonant artists and innovate faster than traditional industry players.

In executive appointments, Warner Chappell Music Nashville has promoted Christina Wiltshire to Vice President of A&R. In this expanded role, she will continue strengthening the publisher’s presence in Nashville by discovering and developing top songwriting talent and cultivating creative alliances both in the U.S. and internationally. She will report directly to Austen Adams, President of WCM Nashville. A seasoned industry professional, Wiltshire originally joined the company in 2019 as Director of A&R, bringing experience from previous positions as creative director at Sea Gayle Music and creative coordinator at Patrick Joseph Music/SONGS, where she was mentored by respected music publisher Pat Higdon. She affirmed her dedication to championing the label’s songwriters and creating new, innovative pathways for their music.