EVP, Universal Music Publishing, Nashville

HIGHLIGHTS: Five singles in the Top 10 at Country radio, including Paul DiGiovanni’s first #1, “How Not To,” recorded by Dan & Shay. “Body Like a Back Road,” written and recorded by Sam Hunt, is reigning over the charts and crossing to Pop. “Humble and Kind,” penned by Lori McKenna and recorded by Tim McGraw, won Grammy Country Song of the Year. We recently re-signed former BMI Songwriter of the Year Troy Verges. Keith Urban’s latest album, FUSE, has gone Platinum. Luke Laird celebrated his 23rd #1 (all with UMPG) when “Fast,” recorded by Luke Bryan, hit the top of the chart.

WHAT'S ON THE RUNWAY: Developing artists Rachel Wammack and Ben Gallaher, and success with Kane Brown and Ryan Hurd; they’re all are signed to Sony Music Nashville, whose team is taking shots with us on artists that fall outside of “traditional” country radio. And we’re thrilled about new music coming from UMG Nashville superstars Shania Twain, Keith Urban and Sam Hunt.

HOW HAVE CHANGES IN NASHVILLE AFFECTED YOU, AND HOW ARE YOU ADDRESSING THEM IN YOUR WORK?
Nashville is truly becoming an “all-genre Music City”; we’re now attracting pop, rock and urban artists, writers and producers. UMPG is on the forefront of this progress, and we in Nashville are thrilled to support global deals like Jack White, Nightly and Chord Overstreet, to name a few. We recently added A&R Director Zach Lund to focus on non-country music being created in and around Nashville.