As long expected, Universal Music Group is being hit by numerous layoffs across its US and UK operations, with several top executives leaving, among others.
The measures – which sources say continue a process announced in January 2024 as continuing this year – are expected to take place on Wednesday and Thursday this week. They were preceded by about 200 layoffs across the company’s Canadian operations late last month, and by 27-year UMG veteran Rebecca Allen’s announcement Tuesday that she was stepping down as director of artists and strategy, a position to which she was only promoted in December.
Sources say Variety that Def Jam Records Chairman and CEO Tunji Balogun, Interscope Records executives Sam Riback and Nicole Wyskoarko will all leave their positions, among others, although Balogun will stay on until the end of the year and help with the transition. Republic Records Chairman and Co-CEO Jim Roppo is reportedly leaving Warner Records to fill the void left when COO Tom Corson was elevated to COO of parent company Warner Music Group, although neither company has confirmed the move.
At Republic, Jeffrey Remedios, Chairman and CEO of Republic Collective, and Tyler Arnold, Chairman and CEO of Mercury Records, will assume new leadership roles at Republic Records, details of which will be announced later; Island Records co-CEOs Imran Majid and Justin Eshak will take on larger roles at UMG’s East Coast labels.
At Interscope-Geffen-A&M, label president Michelle An, executive vice president of urban marketing Laura Carter and senior vice president of digital marketing Ramon Alvarez-Smikle will take on broader leadership roles at the label, which will be announced in the coming weeks.
More details should become clear in the coming days.
Alongside Allen’s departure, in the UK, Ben Mortimer steps down as chairman of Polydor Label Group, with Jodie Cammidge acting as interim head of the label, and Nickie Owen taking on an expanded role as president of global marketing. Hannah Neaves, president of UMRecordings UK, will take on a consultancy role, while Sarah Boorman will take on a new management role. In Ireland, Mark Crossingham is leaving his position as general manager and will be replaced by Nick Younger.
The layoffs continue a trend that has occurred at the Big Three music companies in recent years, most often in a series of raises rather than single, large-scale cutbacks; However, this decision by UMG is major.
Warner Music, in particular, has cut a significant percentage of its staff, but Sony has also laid off a number of employees in recent years.
“Our continued success is based on our ability to anticipate industry changes, act early to better serve all of our artists and songwriters, and seize opportunities in the fastest-growing areas of music. Our industry-leading investment in artist development has always guided this work and will continue to do so. We are bringing new skills and technologies and connecting the expertise of our teams for greater global impact and greater efficiency. Where we have made the difficult decision to eliminate certain positions, we are deeply grateful for the contributions of those who are leaving us,” UMG said. the spokesperson said.
Although UMG’s balance sheet was strong in the first half of 2026, with revenue increasing to nearly $7.2 billion, up 5.3% from the first half of the previous year, it was impacted by costs related to the consolidation of its $775 million acquisition of Downtown Music and other factors.
But more broadly, the industry is mired in another period of transition, as the streaming boom that began in the mid-2010s and extended through the pandemic has long since stabilized, and audience attention shifts from more traditional media like terrestrial radio to social media and other digital realms.
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