Cristina Chavez has joined Universal Music Publishing Group (UMPG) as its Vice President, A&R.
Based in Santa Monica, Chavez reports to David Gray, Executive Vice President and Head of US A&R at UMPG.
Her role is effective immediately.
As Vice President, A&R, Chavez will work closely with songwriters on UMPG’s existing roster, and will also identify and sign new talent to the company.
Before joining UMPG, Chavez worked at producer/songwriter management company Hallwood Media as Senior Vice President of A&R and Management.
In this role, she helped lead projects for Chller, who wrote The Game’s 2022 single Eazy (featuring Kanye West), Needlz (Cardi B, Drake, Bruno Mars) and Dimitri McDowell (Wiz Khalifa, Ty Dolla $ign).
Before Hallwood Media, Chavez worked as an executive at the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers, where she orchestrated initiatives with Women Behind The Music and She Is The Music, and hosted activations with the likes of Tierra Whack and Rico Nasty.
Chavez has also held roles at 106 KMEL, BET and 106 & Park in New York.
Chavez powered BET’s Music Matters brand, says UMPG, and piloted relationships with Kendrick Lamar, H.E.R., J. Cole, Big Sean, Miguel and Jazmine Sullivan for events and interviews.
She also helped oversee Music Matters’ presence at SXSW, A3C and MegaFest, where she worked with names including Pharrell, Meek Mill, and T.I.
Chavez’s new role is the latest in a series of A&R appointments for UMPG over the past several months.
In March, Dani Sawyerr was promoted to Director of A&R for UMPG UK, while the Santa Monica-based Lillia Parsa was promoted to Senior Vice President, A&R, at the company in December 2021.
Parsa represents a roster of songwriters including Louis Bell, Billy Walsh, Omer Fedi, Blake Slatkin, Nija, Julia Michaels, Cirkut, Brian Lee, Tierra Whack, Lil Tecca, Surfaces, Gracie Abrams and Jimmy Napes.
In November, Taylor Testa was also named UMPG’s Vice President, A&R.
“We look forward to helping Cristina’s executive career grow at our company.”
David Gray
David Gray, said: “Cristina’s experience as a manager, her strong relationships with talent, and her love of songwriters and songwriting make her a perfect fit for UMPG and our writers.
“We look forward to helping Cristina’s executive career grow at our company.”
“I am thrilled to be joining UMPG and its exceptional A&R team.”
Cristina Chavez
Cristina Chavez, added: “I am thrilled to be joining UMPG and its exceptional A&R team.
“Jody Gerson and David Gray are such respected publishing leaders, and I knew from our early conversations that this is where I am supposed to be.
“I look forward to adding value to our already amazing team and roster.”Music Business Worldwide
