Peter Will Lead Company’s Label Group and Publishing Division in Expanded Role

NASHVILLE, January 9, 2018 —Longtime Christian Music executive Peter York has been promoted to Chairman & CEO of Capitol Christian Music Group (CCMG), it was announced today by Capitol Music Group Chairman & CEO Steve Barnett, to whom York will report.  In his expanded role, York will drive CCMG’s strategic direction, business development initiatives and key partner relationships while continuing to manage the company’s market-leading Label Group – which includes prominent Christian Music labels Sparrow, Forefront, sixsteps, Hillsong and Jesus Culture, among others – as well as the market-leading Capitol Christian Publishing division.  York is based at the company’s headquarters in Nashville.

Peter York has served with CCMG for more than 33 years, the last 22 of those as President of its Label Group.  He added Commercial Partnerships and Publishing to his portfolio of responsibilities in 2015.  York’s early years with Sparrow Records were spent working directly with label founder Billy Ray Hearn, first in copyright development and A&R, and later rising to Senior Vice President of A&R and partnering with Hearn’s son, Bill Hearn, to run the label.

During his time with the company, York played an instrumental role in the creative development of a diverse array of artists, including Steven Curtis Chapman, BeBe & CeCe Winans, Switchfoot, Chris Tomlin, TobyMac, Amy Grant and dozens of others.   He began his career in music more than 40 years ago as a musician, songwriter and Grammy-Award winning producer, playing guitar and recording with Phil Keaggy, 2nd Chapter of Acts, Michael and Stormie Omartian and countless others.  York has A&R’d more than 100 gold, platinum and multi-platinum albums.

According to CMG Chairman & CEO Steve Barnett, “Peter is one of our industry’s most highly-regarded and accomplished executives.  He has been instrumental in achieving CCMG’s market-leading stature and the development and support of so many important Christian Music artists.  Having worked closely with Bill Hearn for more than three decades, he is uniquely qualified to take the full reins of CCMG as its Chairman & CEO and lead the company into the future.  Everyone at CMG joins me in congratulating Peter on this well-deserved promotion.”

York said, “It was an honor to work with Bill Hearn, my close friend and colleague, for more than 33 years.  I learned so much from him, and I’m humbled to take on the responsibility of running the best company in the Christian Music world.  I thank Steve Barnett for his continuing confidence and belief in me, and the talented team at CCMG for working with me to help our artists and songwriters reach new heights and expand the audience for their music and songs throughout the world.”

About Capitol Christian Music Group

Capitol Christian Music Group (CCMG) is the world’s leading Christian Music company and market leader in recorded music and music publishing.  Capitol Christian Music Group operates several divisions, including CCMG Label Group (Sparrow Records, ForeFront Records, sixstepsrecords, Hillsong, Jesus Culture), Motown Gospel and CCMG Publishing (including Brentwood-Benson Music Publications). CCMG owned labels are home to artists Chris Tomlin, Amy Grant, TobyMac, Tasha Cobbs, Jeremy Camp, Hillsong United, Matt Redman, Mandisa, Tye Tribbett, Crowder, Passion Band, Karl Jobe and many others.  Capitol CMG Publishing, in addition to publishing most of the CCMG labels’ premier artist/writers, represents many of the leading writers in Christian/Gospel including Ben Glover, David Garcia, Kirk Franklin, Mark Hall, Brenton Brown and many more.  Key Distribution partners include The Gaither Music Group, Centricity Records, Marantha Music, InPop Records, Worthy Book Publishing and Cinedigm Entertainment.  Led by Chairman & CEO Peter York and a strong executive team of long-time Christian and Gospel music veterans, Capitol Christian Music Group is characterized by a passionate commitment to their artists, songwriters, customers, business partners, and one another, as well as a strong spirit of community service.

CCMG is a division of Capitol Music Group (CMG), led by Chairman and CEO Steve Barnett, which is a wholly owned division within Universal Music Group (UMG), the global music leader with strong market positions in recorded music, music publishing, and merchandising.

About Capitol Music Group:

Capitol Music Group (CMG) is comprised of Capitol Records, Virgin Records, Motown Records, Blue Note Records, Astralwerks, Harvest Records, Capitol Christian Music Group, Priority Records, Atom Factory, and Deep Well Records, as well as Capitol Studios and the company’s independent label services and distribution division, Caroline.  Capitol Music Group is based in Hollywood, California in the iconic Capitol Records Tower.

Artists that record for CMG labels include: Ryan Adams, Erykah Badu, Banks, The Beach Boys, The Beatles, Beck, Bee Gees, Jon Bellion, BJ The Chicago Kid, Rosanne Cash, Neil Diamond, Disclosure, Empire of the Sun, Robert Glasper, Halsey, Don Henley, Hillsong United, Judah The Lion, Kem, Charles Lloyd, tobyMac, Paul McCartney, Vic Mensa, My Morning Jacket, NeYo, NF, Norah Jones, Tori Kelly, Migos, Katy Perry, Gregory Porter, Rich Homie Quan, Ben Rector, Porter Robinson, Maggie Rogers, Bob Seger, Troye Sivan, Chris Tomlin and TV On The Radio.  For the U.S.:  5 Seconds Of Summer, Bastille, Glass Animals and Sam Smith.

Capitol Music Group is a division of Universal Music Group, which is a fully owned subsidiary of Vivendi.