STATE OF THE STATE: UMG NASHVILLE
Cindy Mabe characterizes the present moment at UMGN as “transformative,” and that’s evident at both the creative and structural levels. After a gratifying Grammy season—which included big wins for Chris Stapleton and a Best New Artist nomination for The War and Treaty—and a year highlighted by a fleet of #1s, Mabe is focused on a slate of new signings and joint ventures that expand the company’s definition well beyond “country label.” As she underscored during the four-day Music Is Universal event at Nashville’s Skydeck during last CMA week, she’s committed to a vision rooted in authenticity and emotional connection. “They are culture shifters, bridge builders, soul healers,” she proclaimed of the seven acts presented at the gathering, “but they are human first.”
Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Anne Wilson exemplifies the ambition and innovation underlying Team Mabe’s present push. Wilson, inked in a JV with Capitol Christian Music Group, has crafted a fusion of Contemporary Christian themes and country vibe that’s making serious waves. Expect new music from her later this year.
Other noteworthy new signings include Luke Grimes, Hueston (part of new distro/services entity Silver Wings, in partnership with Virgin), Dillon James, Bryce Leatherwood (in a JV with Republic), Josh Ross (a JV with Universal Music Canada), Louie Thesinger, superstar Brad Paisley and, to inaugurate new label Capitol Comedy Nashville, standup phenom Nate Bargatze.
UMGN’s starry roster enjoyed a sensational year at Country radio, with #1s achieved by Stapleton (the double-Grammy-winning “White Horse”), Jordan Davis (“What My World Spins Around,” “Next Thing You Know”), Dierks Bentley (“Gold”), Parker McCollum (“Handle on You”), Tyler Hubbard (“Dancin’ in the Country”) and Jon Pardi (“Your Heart or Mine”). The RIAA bestowed an array of certifications on House Mabe, amounting to six gold albums, four platinum albums, eight multiplatinum albums, 43 gold singles, 32 platinum singles and 69 multiplatinum singles. And we’d be remiss if we didn’t mention the great Brenda Lee’s #1 chart appearance over the holidays with “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree”—65 years after its release. Oh, and speaking of Christmas, we also saw an instant-classic holiday offering from Pardi.
Big releases over the last year included Stapleton’s Higher; Hubbard’s eponymous solo debut, which boasted back-to-back platinum-selling #1 hits; Davis’ Bluebird Days, featuring such giants as CMA Song of the Year “Buy Dirt”; Bentley’s Gravel & Gold (featuring the Grammy-nominated “High Note”); McCollum’s widely admired Never Enough; Brothers Osborne’s acclaimed self-titled set, a Best Country Album Grammy nominee; Darius Rucker’s Carolyn’s Boy, which launched two big #1s; Vince Gill & Paul Franklin’s Sweet Memories: A Tribute to Ray Price & The Cherokee Cowboys, which nabbed them a Grammy nom; and, of course, BNA nominees The War and Treaty, who got huge looks on the ACMs, and CMAs and won their second straight Duo of the Year trophy at Americana Music Association Awards. There were also debut releases from Dalton Dover, Jon Langston and Kylie Morgan while new music came from, among others, Luke Bryan, Billy Currington, Sam Williams, Sam Hunt, Mickey Guyton, Kassi Ashton, Maddie & Tae and Travis Denning.
In addition to the hotly anticipated drop from Anne Wilson, expect new music this year from The War and Treaty, Keith Urban, Kacey Musgraves (who got a giant look this year with her feature on Zach Bryan’s smash “I Remember Everything”) and George Strait.
Mabe’s key executive promotions and new hires include EVP Biz & Legal Rob Femia, EVP Marketing Lori Christian, EVP A&R Chelsea Blythe, SVP Finance and Operations Stephanie Alexa, SVP Biz Dev & Strategy Charlene Bryant, marketing VPs Gary Keffer, Ami Brown and Vipin Reddy, and promo VPs Chris Schuler, David Friedman and Miranda McDonald.
