This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.
Business News Labels & Publishers
Universal Music’s long-standing US distribution chief to step down
By Chris Cooke | Published on Monday 6 October 2014
The boss of Universal Music’s distribution division in the US, Jim Urie, has announced he will depart the major at the end of the year.
He’s been with the company since 1998, leading what became known as Universal Music Group Distribution since 2000. He oversaw the mega-major’s US distribution network during a period of considerable change in the record industry, and led a number of big initiatives along the way. He was also very vocal on the need for American legislators to do more to crack down on online music piracy, not least via the Music Rights Now initiative.
Confirming his departure from Universal in a memo to staff subsequently published by Billboard, Urie wrote: “I feel like it’s time for me to make a change. Some of it is to be free to pursue the entrepreneurial opportunities that I’ve been eyeing. Most importantly is having the opportunity to do some of the many things that I haven’t had the time to do for all of my working life”.
He added: “My leaving in no way reflects on my optimism for the music business. There is no doubt that we are at a turning point that will bring us more ways to monetise our product and better marketing of our wonderful artists to a world that is hungry for what only we can give them”.
Paying tribute to Urie, overall Universal boss Lucian Grainge responded: “Your expertise and commitment are remarkable. “We owe you an enormous debt of gratitude. Moreover, you have built a first-rate team. Each one of them has made an important contribution and they will continue to do great things here”.
