Sydney, AU – July 15, 2025

Universal Music Australia (UMA), today unveiled its newly reimagined catalogue division, Universal Music Connect (UMC), to lead both global and domestic catalogue strategy for Universal Music Australia and its artists. UMC proudly holds longstanding partnerships with some of the most well-known and respected talent in Australian music and will continue to offer bespoke label services for established domestic talent.

Leading the transition are General Manager of Catalogue, Liam Dennis and General Manager - Marketing, Garret Haakma. Both executives bring a renewed focus on strategic marketing, collaborative partnerships, new technologies, immersive experiences and engaging audiences across all platforms.

UMC’s strategic ‘Tuned to Culture’ vision goes beyond traditional catalogue management and aims to build new audiences for UMG artists in Australia and beyond, while helping them reinforce and grow their musical legacies. Additionally, UMC’s Label Services team continues to offer label support for established artists to continue releasing new albums, grow their own artist brands, develop new products and drive fan interest and engagement around their activity.

In making the announcement, Sean Warner, President and CEO, Universal Music Australia & New Zealand said, “The announcement of Universal Music Connect is a sign of Universal Music Australia’s dedication and commitment to shaping culture through the power of artistry. To have a strategic division truly focused on bridging generations through the celebration of music’s past, while cementing its place in present cultural conversations and moments, UMC is unlocking endless possibilities for the future. ANZ has world-class musical talent consisting of artists with incredible creativity, artistry, and individuality. I’m excited for our team at UMC to continue driving the amplification of our Australian catalogue globally and deliver for our artists and labels.”

Liam Dennis said:“We’re proud to serve as ambassadors for UMG and UMA’s iconic roster of artists and recordings in Australia. Our mission is to amplify our artists’ catalogues and create new opportunities to build meaningful connections with fans through great music.”

Garret Haakma added: “We live in an exciting time where a hit song can come from anywhere, at any moment. With artist and catalogue discoverability at an all-time high, UMC is privileged to represent some of the most timeless artists, their stories and musical legacies, and we look forward to bringing these to both new and existing audiences. Beyond preserving iconic music, UMC is focused on amplifying the relevance of timeless songs and finding their place in present culture.”

UMC’s relaunch coincides with the resurgence of Empire Of The Sun’s ‘We Are The People.’Eighteen years after its initial release, the track is firing globally appearing in the Top 100 streaming charts around the world, powered by UMC across marketing, socials, sync, brand partnerships and more.

UMC have recently celebrated a major Australian Album chart debut for INXS Listen Like Thieves’ (40th Anniversary Deluxe Edition) a comprehensive edition of the global breakthrough album from one of Australia’s most iconic bands, alongside an Australian #1 Album debut for Killing Heidi's quadruple platinum 'Reflector' album (25th Anniversary Edition).

Meet The Team

The announcement of the launch of Universal Music Connect provides the opportunity to introduce a fresh, passionate, experienced, and dedicated new team.