Permission: Granite

Universal Music Group (UMG) has appointed Adam Granite as Executive Vice President, Market Development, effective Sept. 1. Granite will work closely with UMG’s senior management team and operating companies across more than 60 territories to maximize the commercial opportunities for artists and labels across Europe and emerging markets including Africa, China and India. He will also increase coordination of UMG’s audio-visual content in Europe and Asia and contribute to the company’s global strategy for marketing, distribution, and commercial initiatives including licensing, acquisitions and emerging genres.

Granite will be based in London and report to Sir Lucian Grainge, Chairman and CEO of Universal Music Group. In making the announcement, Grainge said, “More than ever, to be successful in an increasingly global music business, you must be able to maximize opportunities in markets around the world. With Adam, we are adding an experienced executive to UMG’s deep bench and gaining someone with a global track record of commercial success.”

Granite is a 20-year music industry vet who most recently served as President of Northern & Eastern Europe and Africa for Sony Music Entertainment. Before that, he was Executive Vice President, Sony Music International, and earlier in his career served as General Manager of Epic Records. “Universal Music Group is the gold standard when it comes to breaking artists across international markets,” Granite said. “With the global nature of today’s music industry, artists have access to audiences around the world and the ability to broadly influence culture on a scale never before seen. It’s a tremendously exciting time and I’m looking forward to bringing my experience to UMG and working with their renowned team of artists and executives.”