Themusicnetwork.com
One of the most influential figures in music publishing across Australia and the broader Asia-Pacific region is preparing to step away from the business.
Andrew Jenkins, President of Universal Music Publishing Group’s Australia and Asia Pacific operations, will leave the company on July 1, closing a chapter that spans nearly two decades at UMPG and more than four decades across the wider music industry.
Jenkins’ departure marks more than an executive transition; it signals the exit of a publishing leader whose career tracked multiple eras of industry transformation, from physical formats and traditional territorial licensing models to the streaming economy that now defines global publishing.
Before arriving at Universal through the company’s acquisition of BMG Music Publishing in 2006, Jenkins built his career through senior roles at PolyGram, Polydor Records and later BMG, where he rose to President. Across those years, he helped navigate one of the most revolutionary periods in publishing history while expanding relationships with writers and catalogs across multiple generations.
His influence stretched far beyond artist rosters. Jenkins played a significant role in developing multi-territory licensing structures between organizations, including SACEM and APRA, helping shape frameworks that became increasingly important as digital consumption erased geographic boundaries.
Throughout his career, Jenkins worked alongside an expansive list of artists and songwriters, with relationships spanning acts including the Bee Gees, The Cure, Alanis Morissette, Robert Plant, Van Morrison and Tom Waits. At the same time, his impact extended into trade organizations and industry governance, where he served in leadership positions across publishing advocacy groups and collecting societies.
In announcing his departure, Jenkins focused on the people behind his many milestones, thanking colleagues, industry organizations, artists and longtime collaborators.
His exit arrives during a period of rapid change for global publishing, where catalog competition, international licensing and songwriter rights continue reshaping the business.
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