STATE OF THE STATE: UMG NASHVILLE

Mike Dungan, Cindy Mabe and company are enjoying yet more big success for Sam Hunt, whose SOUTHSIDE set earned 2020’s sole country platinum certification the week after its release. Sam’s “Hard to Forget,” meanwhile, is a top streaming cut in the format and a Country radio monster.

UMGN breakouts Travis Denning, Parker McCollum and Mickey Guyton are inspiring major buzz, meanwhile, and the label group’s slate of releases is expected to include new sets from superstars Luke Bryan, Eric Church, Keith Urban, Brothers Osborne, Carrie Underwood (for Christmas) and Chris Stapleton, whose 2015 set Traveller remains the undisputed consumption champ among country albums. Traveller’s “Tennessee Whiskey” holds the record for the most-streamed country song in the U.S. with 1.4 billion total streams, followed by Hunt’s “Body Like a Backroad” with 1.2b. 

The Uni team has promoted a number of execs this year, including Lori Christian—who was upped to SVP Marketing—as well as Rachel Fontenot (now VP Artist Develop-ment) and Leigh Malleus (VP Media). Katie Dean became SVP MCA Promo just after our 2019 Nashville special was put to bed, so we’re duty-bound to salute her now. The team was additionally strengthened by new hires like Marketing/Artist Development Director Kristen Reynolds, Data Analytics Research specialist Kristen Reed, Capitol Nashville promo’s Katie Bright and Catalog Marketing/Product Development Director Tara Master.