REBECCA ALLEN PROMOTED TO CHIEF ARTIST AND STRATEGY OFFICER AT UNIVERSAL MUSIC GROUP UK
REBECCA ALLEN PROMOTED TO CHIEF ARTIST AND STRATEGY OFFICER AT UNIVERSAL MUSIC GROUP UK
ALLEN TAKES ON BRAND NEW LEADERSHIP ROLE FOLLOWING SUCCESS AT THE HELM OF EMI, DECCA, AND UMG UK’s AUDIENCE & MEDIA STRATEGY DIVISION
Credit: Carsten Windhorst
LONDON, December 11, 2025 – Universal Music Group UK (UMG UK), the UK’s leading music company, has today announced the promotion of Rebecca Allen to the newly-formed role of Chief Artist and Strategy Officer.
In this first-of-its-kind leadership role, Allen will support UMG UK’s market-leading labels (Island-EMI Label Group, Polydor Label Group – including Polydor, Capitol UK and 0207 Def Jam – Decca, Fontana and Universal Music Recordings) to help artists navigate every step of their journey within the company, from new signings to established acts, and help them to build long-term success. She will ensure artists of every kind benefit from the unique breadth and scope of opportunities at UMG. This includes the UK’s industry-leading International Marketing and Globe creative teams which provide specialist audience and data insight, cross-label synergies, best-in-class promotion, digital marketing and artist relations, as well as encouraging broader outreach within education and culture.
Within this new role, Allen will oversee the holistic experience of the artist within the company – working together with US and global affiliate partners – in order to meet the needs of artists, managers and entrepreneurs who are innovating in the ever-evolving global marketplace, to grow artist fandom and exposure in the UK and beyond. She will continue to lead the industry-first Audience and Media Strategy and Artist Relations teams.
Dickon Stainer, Chairman and CEO of Universal Music Group UK and Ireland, says, “Becky is an exceptional executive whose experience across many different parts of the company gives her unique insight into the artist journey. This new role will empower her to ensure that every part of UMG is harnessed and activated for the benefit of the artist.”
Rebecca Allen, adds, “Stepping into this role means a great deal to me. Supporting artists and helping them realise their ambitions has driven me throughout my career, and it’s something I care about deeply. I’ve been fortunate to work with so many inspiring artists, managers and colleagues, and I’m excited to deepen those relationships as we continue building a creative, collaborative and artist-first environment at UMG UK.”
Over her 25-year career, Allen has played a pivotal role in creating long-standing relationships with the artist and management community, and has worked with a wide range of artists from Elton John and Andrea Bocelli to Loyle Carner and Olivia Dean. She has held leadership roles at EMI, Decca and most recently UMG UK’s innovative Audience and Media Strategy division. She has also played significant roles across the wider music industry, including chairing the 2018 Classic BRIT Awards and co-chairing the BAFTA-nominated 2021 BRIT Awards – the only executive to manage both.
Allen joined Universal Music in 1999 as a press assistant, progressing to Director of Media at Decca, and later Managing Director and then President – becoming the first woman to lead the label in its 90-year distinguished history. In 2020, Allen became President of EMI Records (later joined by Jo Charrington as Co-President in 2022), where she jointly led the label to unprecedented success with artists including Taylor Swift, Elton John, Olivia Dean, Loyle Carner, Take That and Chase & Status. During her time at EMI, the label won Music Week’s prestigious Label of the Year for two consecutive years and it was the No.1 label in the UK. She took the helm of AMS in 2024, including the Artist Relations team in 2025. AMS is the largest team within UMG UK and, under Allen’s leadership, it has reshaped how the company develops and delivers audience-led artist strategy – bringing together specialist teams across digital, media, data, insight, and audience development.
Beyond her work at UMG UK, Rebecca Allen is also a Trustee of the BRIT School, she was awarded an Honorary Fellowship by Trinity Laban Conservatoire in 2023, and she has an Honorary Doctorate from Buckinghamshire New University. She was also Businesswoman of the Year at the 2017 Women in Music Awards. As a widely respected executive leader, Allen has been recognised as an inspiring role model for women across the industry, helping open doors for the next generation of creative and executive talent.
About Universal Music Group UK:
Universal Music is the UK’s leading music company. It is home to a wide range of artists and labels including Island EMI Label Group, Polydor Label Group (which includes Polydor, Capitol UK and 0207 Def Jam), Decca Records, Fontana, Universal Music Recordings, as well as Globe – UMG UK’s Creative and Commercial Partnerships division – and the world’s most famous recording studios, Abbey Road. It is the UK division of Universal Music Group (UMG).
