Cindy Mabe has exited her role as Universal Music Group Nashville's chair and CEO after nearly 18 years with the company "to pursue new opportunities," it was announced today.
Mabe, whose exit was first reported by Country Air Check , was appointed UMGN chair and CEO in April 2023, leaving the post less than two years into the role. The executive was the first woman to lead a major Nashville label group, succeeding retired chair and CEO Mike Dungan as UMGN chair and CEO after he stepped down in 2023.
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Ascending to the CEO position is Mike Harris, who has served as EVP and COO of UMG Nashville since 2016. Grammy-winning producer Dave Cobb is also joining the company as chief creative officer.
Harris had previously spent 15 years at EMI, rising to EVP GM for Caroline, a division of the Capitol Music Group/EMI.
One of Music City's biggest hitmakers, Cobb has worked on Chris Stapleton's Traveller , Jason Isbell's Southeastern and Brandi Carlile's By The Way I Forgive You , among other successful releases across genres beyond Country and Americana.
Cobb's film credits are also impressive. He's currently working on music for Deliver Me From Nowhere , the still-filming Bruce Springsteen biopic. He was also a key creative on the movies ELVIS , Eyes Of Tammy Faye , Hunger Games: Ballad Of Songbirds And Snakes and 2018's A Star Is Born , for which he produced Lady Gaga's "Always Remember Us This Way."
Mabe has had a lengthy career in the Nashville music scene. She began her career as a promotions coordinator at RCA Nashville, later working in sales, artist marketing and development for such acts as Martina McBride and Alabama. She spent eight years at Arista Records Nashville as senior director of marketing and artist development, working with Alan Jackson, Brad Paisley, Carrie Underwood and more. Following a stint at Capitol Records, she joined UMGN in 2012 as SVP of marketing. She was appointed UMGN president in 2014. During her tenure at the label, she helped grow the careers of Luke Bryan, Eric Church, Mickey Guyton, Sam Hunt, Alan Jackson, Parker McCollum, Reba McEntire, Kacey Musgraves, Jon Pardi, Chris Stapleton, George Strait, Carrie Underwood, Keith Urban, Brothers Osborne and Little Big Town.
When Mabe was promoted to CEO and chair in 2023, UMG described her in a release as "one of Music Row's most respected music executives and distinguished marketers."
Of her exit, UMG chairman and CEO Lucian Grainge said in a statement, "She leaves UMG with our gratitude and respect."
As for future plans for the Nashville operation, Grainge added, "We see an incredible opportunity to expand our presence in Nashville and build upon our industry leading track record. The worldwide success of our country artists demonstrate that the genre truly has no boundaries and I'm excited for what lies ahead creatively and commercially."
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