Sony Music Publishing promotes Michael Riggs to senior VP

A three-decade climb through royalty tracking and digital licensing just earned a Nashville exec the senior VP title at one of music publishing's biggest players.

Riggs lands the SVP gig at Sony Music Publishing

• Michael Riggs got bumped to SVP of Licensing and Income Tracking.
• His Nashville-based role reports to Dale Esworthy directly.
• Riggs oversees sync administration and global income tracking.
• Nearly 30 years at SMP started as an income-tracking analyst.

SMP has been reshuffling its leadership ranks

• Greg Prata stepped up to CFO after Tom Kelly's retirement announcement.
• Roslyn Pineda grabbed the President of Asia role in February.
• Dee Hale and Michael Young both scored SVP-level promotions.
• Carol Ng exits at the end of March 2026.

Big moves on the publishing strategy front

• SMP opened a flagship Philippines office under Stephanie Ortiz.
• Miranda Lambert's catalog got acquired via Domain Capital Group.
• Big Yellow Dog Music was scooped up as a full acquisition.
• Jon Buscema signed a global deal through Daniel Nigro's Amusement.