{"id":2236649,"date":"2026-01-15T21:59:24","date_gmt":"2026-01-15T21:59:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/?p=2236649"},"modified":"2026-01-15T21:59:24","modified_gmt":"2026-01-15T21:59:24","slug":"umg-taps-nyts-hannah-poferl-to-lead-its-data-strategy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/umg-taps-nyts-hannah-poferl-to-lead-its-data-strategy\/","title":{"rendered":"UMG taps NYT\u2019s Hannah Poferl to lead its data strategy"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><\/p>\n<div>\n<div class=\"text-to-speech\">\n    <button class=\"text-to-speech__button button\"><br \/>\n        <br \/>\n        Listen to the article<br \/>\n        <span class=\"text-to-speech__button__audio-length\">3 min<\/span><br \/>\n    <\/button><\/p>\n<div class=\"text-to-speech__controls\">\n        <audio controls=\"\" class=\"js-text-to-speech\" preload=\"none\"><source src=\"https:\/\/text-to-speech.divecdn.com\/newspost\/809776\/2026-01-15_14.53.32\/universal-music-group-hannah-poferl-chief-data-officer.wav\" type=\"audio\/mp3\"><\/source><\/audio><\/p>\n<div class=\"text-to-speech__controls__text\">\n            This audio is auto-generated. Please let us know if you have <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ciodive.com\/contact\/\">feedback<\/a>.\n        <\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h3><span><span><span><strong><span><span>Dive Brief:<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>Hannah Poferl, <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><span><span><span><span><span><span>The New York Times\u2019 first chief data officer, is departing the media company for the same role at <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.prnewswire.com\/news-releases\/universal-music-group-appoints-hannah-poferl-as-chief-data-officer-302660077.html\"><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>Universal Music Group<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><span><span><span><span><span><span>, according to a <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>Tuesday announcement<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><span><span><span><span><span><span>. The appointment is effective immediately.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span><span><span><span><span><span>As the chief data officer, <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>Poferl<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><span><span><span><span><span><span> will own the company\u2019s global data and analytics strategy and will be responsible for audience development and engagement, including the use of AI technologies, according to the release. The executive will report to COO <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>Boyd Muir<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><span><span><span><span><span><span>.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span><span><span><span><span><span>\u201cHer exceptional reputation and track record of strategically utilizing data, analytics and AI technology to grow, connect and engage audiences with creativity and culture, mirrors our own vision for transforming the ways artists and labels can connect with fans,\u201d <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>Muir<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><span><span><span><span><span><span> said in a statement.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><span><span><span><strong><span><span>Dive Insight:<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>UMG\u2019s appointment illustrates the ongoing push from enterprises to elevate data and analytics to the C-suite.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>The percentage of leading companies that have hired a chief data officer is at<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span> an all-time high, <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><span><span><span><span><span><span>according to the 2026 AI &amp; Data Leadership <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/static1.squarespace.com\/static\/62adf3ca029a6808a6c5be30\/t\/6942c3cb535da44088c2dbff\/1765983179572\/2026+AI+%26+Data+Leadership+Executive+Benchmark+Survey+Final.pdf\"><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>Executive Benchmark Survey<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><span><span><span><span><span><span>. In this year\u2019s survey, 90% of the 110 companies surveyed indicated they have a chief data officer. Almost all \u2014 <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>92.7%<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><span><span><span><span><span><span> \u2014 of the companies surveyed report AI is fueling the trend.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>A November report from IBM surveying <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>1,700<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><span><span><span><span><span><span> chief data officers produced similar findings. In its <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/hbr.org\/2026\/01\/hb-how-executives-are-thinking-about-ai-heading-into-2026\"><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>2025 Chief Data Officer Study<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><span><span><span><span><span><span>, <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>81% of respondents indicated that their company\u2019s data strategy is integrated with its technology roadmap, compared with 52% in 2023.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>The vendor tied this development to AI, adding that the tech is providing data officers a \u201cclarity of focus.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>Poferl<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><span><span><span><span><span><span> will no doubt tackle areas of focus IBM flagged for chief data officers such as establishing a data culture through data literacy and user-friendly tools.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>She brings with her <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>almost 12 years <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><span><span><span><span><span><span>at The New York Times<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><span><span><span><span><em><span>, <\/span><\/em><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>more than four<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><span><span><span><span><span><span> as its chief data officer, and will be responsible for audience development and engagement and will also support \u201coperational performance for UMG&#8217;s companies worldwide,\u201d according to the announcement.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>Poferl<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><span><span><span><span><span><span> is joining UMG as the company navigates tricky terrain to protect artists\u2019 data while helping to rethink sources of revenue and how music is made.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>\u201cOur foundational belief is that artists, songwriters, music companies and technology companies, all working together will create a healthy and thriving commercial AI ecosystem in which all of us, including fans, can flourish,\u201d <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>UMG CEO Lucian Grainge <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><span><span><span><span><span><span>told investors during a <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>Q3 2025 earnings call in October.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>In 2025, UMG participated in copyright infringement lawsuits against <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>Suno and Udio,<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><span><span><span><span><span><span> claiming the music generation platform providers trained AI models on its catalog of copyrighted material. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>In October<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><span><span><span><span><span><span>, the company agreed on a settlement with <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>Udio<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><span><span><span><span><span><span>, which included collaborating on a new generative AI platform.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>The company also <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/www.universalmusic.com\/universal-music-group-and-stability-ai-announce-strategic-alliance-to-co-develop-professional-ai-music-creation-tools\/&amp;sa=D&amp;source=docs&amp;ust=1768364500304986&amp;usg=AOvVaw2ScUWVACYZgjiEPCtA0HyL\"><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>struck a partnership<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><span><span><span><span><span><span> last fall with <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>Stability AI<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><span><span><span><span><span><span>, a generative AI company, to develop music creation tools. More recently, <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>UMG unveiled a partnership with Nvidia <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><span><span><span><span><span><span>to \u201cpioneer responsible AI for music discovery, creation, and engagement,\u201d which includes extending Nvidia\u2019s large audio language models, <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>Music Flamingo and Audio Flamingo<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><span><span><span><span><span><span>, to its catalog, according to a <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.universalmusic.com\/universal-music-group-to-transform-music-experience-for-billions-of-fans-with-nvidia-ai\/\"><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>press release<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><em> \u2018 The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n<p><em> \u2018 Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.ciodive.com \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Listen to the article 3 min This audio is auto-generated. Please let us know if you have feedback. Dive Brief: Hannah Poferl, The New York Times\u2019 first chief data officer, is departing the media company for the same role at Universal Music Group, according to a Tuesday announcement. The appointment is effective immediately. As the [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":2236650,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"jnews-multi-image_gallery":[],"jnews_single_post":[],"jnews_primary_category":[],"jnews_social_meta":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[25179],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2236649","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-music"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/UMG-taps-NYTs-Hannah-Poferl-to-lead-its-data-strategy.webp.webp","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2236649","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2236649"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2236649\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2236651,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2236649\/revisions\/2236651"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2236650"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2236649"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2236649"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2236649"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}