UMPG Signs Josh Hoge

Pictured (Back Row, L-R): Shannan Hatch, Sr. VP, Creative Services, SESAC; Ron Stuve, VP, A&R/Special Projects, UMPG; Kent Earls, Exec. VP/GM, UMPG; Kent Marcus, Marcus & Colvin, LLP; Cyndi Forman, VP, Creative, UMPG; Travis Gordon, Sr. Creative Director, UMPG. (Front Row, L-R): Josh Hoge and Missy Roberts, Sr. Creative Director, UMPG.

Universal Music Publishing Group (UMPG) has signed Nashville songwriter Josh Hoge to a global publishing deal.

A Franklin, Tennessee native, Hoge has co-penned hit songs including “Think of You” and “I’m Comin’ Over” for Chris Young, as well as six songs on the artist’s latest LP, including title track and lead single “Losing Sleep.” Hoge also co-wrote Kane Brown’s certified gold song “Used to Love You Sober” and charted single “Thunder in the Rain.” In 2016, Hoge was named SESAC Songwriter of the year.

“We have closely followed Josh’s career over the last decade and jumped at the chance to bring him into the UMPG family. He is an incredibly talented melodic singer-songwriter with an innate gift for focusing on the artist’s vision in co-writing sessions. We’re honored to work with him and excited to further his career as a songwriter,” said Kent Earls, EVP and GM of UMPG Nashville.

“When a company like Universal Music Publishing has a philosophy that is ‘Songwriters First,’ what writer wouldn’t want to be a part of that? As a leading publisher in this business, they still have that small family feel which I love most,” said Hoge. “The passion Kent Earls and his entire staff showed in getting me to join was like no other I’d seen in my 10 years of doing this. It was a no brainer for me to sign with this awesome new team!”

Hoge’s musical career began as an R&B solo artist and pop songwriter working with artists such as Backstreet Boys and Jesse McCartney. He was part of a duo, Jukebox Mafia, and toured with Miranda Lambert.