UTA Music Division Promotes Seven Execs to Partner

United Talent Agency shakes up leadership with seven key promotions in its music division. The moves signal aggressive expansion across live, sports, and entertainment sectors.

UTA Music Division Promotes Seven Execs to Partner

United Talent Agency (UTA) just made power moves in its music division, elevating seven executives to Partner. The promotions span UTA’s LIVE, Creators, Sports, and Filmed Entertainment teams—marking a strategic push to deepen leadership as the agency scales.

Who Made the Cut?

The newly minted Partners include:

David Zedeck – Global Head of Music
Neil Warnock – CEO, UTA UK & International Music
Matt Meyer – Head of UTA LIVE
Rich Paul – Sports (yes, the Klutch Sports founder)
Ali Barter – Creators
Leslie Cohen – Filmed Entertainment
Sam Wick – Music Marketing

This isn’t just a reshuffle—it’s a statement. UTA’s doubling down on cross-sector integration, especially between music, sports, and digital creators.

Why This Matters Now

UTA’s music division has been on a tear:

Signed 12 major artists in Q1 2024 (including two Grammy winners)
Expanded its UK/EU live business by 40% year-over-year
Launched a TikTok-first creator incubator last month

“These promotions reflect our commitment to building the most dynamic teams in entertainment,” said UTA CEO Jeremy Zimmer in a statement obtained by AI Music Daily. Translation: They’re arming up for war with CAA and WME.

The Bigger Picture

This follows a wave of music industry leadership shifts:

Warner Music Group’s restructure last week
Live Nation’s new diversity hires
Sony Music’s AI task force launch

Insiders say UTA’s move preps for upcoming battles in:

AI-generated music rights
Sports/music crossover deals (think Travis Kelce meets Taylor Swift)
Global touring in post-pandemic markets

One thing’s clear—the music talent wars just got hotter.