Universal Music Group announces new appointments

Universal Music Group’s (UMG) Global Classics and Jazz (GCJ) division has today announced the appointment of Natasha Baldwin to the newly created role of president, Global Classics, Jazz and Screen. Dr Clemens Trautmann also takes on a new position. Currently president of Deutsche Grammophon, he will take on the additional role of president of New Business Strategy, Global Classics.

Baldwin will continue her work within Universal Music Publishing Group (UMPG), where she is currently executive vice president of Classics and Screen, but will now also oversee the international strategy for GCJ’s roster of artists and work with the division's classical and jazz labels including Decca, Deutsche Grammophon, Blue Note, Verve, Hyperion and ECM. In his new role, Trautmann will take on responsibility for seeking opportunities for innovation across UMG’s classical labels and artist rosters.

GCJ chairman Dickon Stainer said: ‘Tash is uniquely experienced to lead these genres of music into a new era. Her cross-disciplinary skills in publishing and recording will offer a new and dynamic perspective to our artists and our many global partners… Clemens has an entrepreneurial spirit in the classical space and I’m thrilled he is taking on this unique new role. His proven track record and passion for innovation will help bring UMG’s classical artists and labels even greater opportunities globally.’

Having joined UMG in 2016 to launch Decca Publishing, Baldwin took over at the helm of UMPG Classics and Screen in 2021. Throughout her career, Baldwin has continued to champion cross-genre collaborations between composers and mainstream pop writers. Baldwin’s new appointment aims to ‘strengthen Universal’s position in the classical genre and enable greater collaboration across markets, identifying ways of attracting new audiences and opening up new commercial avenues’.

Trautmann has served as president of Deutsche Grammophon for the past nine years and, as a Juilliard-trained clarinettist and digital media executive, brings a broad range of experience to his new role. Trautmann’s achievements also include the creation of classical live-streaming and on-demand platform STAGE+ and the acquisition of several audio and video catalogues, as well as long-term brand partnerships with Google and Volkswagen and the expansion the Yellow Lounge series to Asia. Trautmann new appointment ‘underscores the deep commitment to UMG’s classical artists and recordings within the Global Classics and Jazz division.’