UMG has pinned EVP stripes on Michael Seltzer, whose full title is now Executive Vice President of Business & Legal Affairs and Head of Commercial Transactions.

In his expanded role, the veteran music-biz lawyer will head up a team of 15 attorneys helping shape and negotiate Uni’s recording contracts, label ventures, label distribution, merch, vendors, trademark entities, brand partners, film, TV and theatrical productions and equity-and-asset acquisitions, among other areas.

The Santa Monica-based Seltzer will continue reporting to General Counsel and EVP of Business & Legal Affairs Jeff Harleston, who prepared a quote for the occasion. It reads: “We are extremely fortunate to have an executive of Michael’s background, experience and expertise to provide guidance, counsel and leadership in these critical areas.”

“With our business constantly evolving, our team continues to rise to the challenge of adapting and reinventing deal structures and new business models,” Seltzer noted in his statement. “I’m truly honored to continue to work with Jeff and UMG'S senior management team to close deals and work with the world’s top artists, labels and entrepreneurs.”

Since 2016, Seltzer has served as SVP of Business & Legal Affairs, Commercial Transactions. Previously, was SVP of Business & Legal Affairs for the mothership’s East Coast labels: Def Jam, Island and Republic. That followed a gig as SVP for IDJ.

After starting his career in entertainment law in 1990 at PolyGram, he worked for Chris Blackwell as COO of Palm Pictures. [Insert lame joke about Seltzer overseeing Blackwell’s ganja stash here.]