Chairman Joe Galante Announces Departure from Sony Music Nashville

Nashville, TN – Joe Galante, Chairman of Sony Music Nashville, today confirms the next step of his 39-year music business career by announcing his decision to leave the company. Galante will continue his role as chairman until a new Nashville label group leader is named. Subsequently, he will actively participate in a transition consultancy once his replacement takes the helm.

Rolf Schmidt-Holtz, Chief Executive Officer, Sony Music Entertainment, remarked, “I would like to thank Joe for his many years of invaluable service to our company. It has been a true pleasure to work with an executive of his exceptional caliber. Since our days together at BMG, I have admired Joe’s remarkable passion and dedication to his artists as well as his unique ability for developing superstar talent and inspiring those around him. He has made an indelible mark on both the country music business and our entire industry and continues to do so. While he will be greatly missed, we look forward to our collaboration in the coming months. I wish him much success in his future endeavors and know from experience that he will be successful in whatever he chooses for his next chapter.”

Joe Galante reflects, “As a 21-year-old kid from Queens starting out at RCA Records in New York, I never dreamed of the nearly 40-year journey that was before me. In 1974, a temporary Nashville assignment turned permanent, and it changed my life – I thank God for it every day.

“I have been inspired by so many exceptional artists and songwriters and feel privileged to be a part of their careers. I’ve worked with unique managers and executives who helped me learn more about this business and how to better my craft. My RCA, BMG and Sony family’s support and passion for our artists’ music helped us build the label group of the year for seven of the last eight years. I also would like to thank Rolf for always being there for me, for his unwavering support of our artists, and especially, for my vision. Everyone always felt his passion around the team and the artist, and they loved spending time with him. He truly is the heart of Sony Music.

“This is solely my decision and I’m excited to begin my journey down another road.” As a final note, Galante remarks, “Nashville is my home and will continue to be.”

While leading the country division to unparalleled successes on Music Row, Joe has helped launch the careers of such stars as Alabama, Carrie Underwood, Keith Whitley, Chris Young, The Judds, Martina McBride, K.T. Oslin, Kellie Pickler, Clint Black, Jake Owen, Lonestar and Sara Evans. He and his Nashville team have bolstered the careers of superstars Kenny Chesney, Alan Jackson, Miranda Lambert, Brooks & Dunn and Montgomery Gentry, among others; and, in addition, he has worked with icons including Kenny Rogers, Dolly Parton and Ronnie Milsap.

Sony Music Nashville’s roster has consistently been among the most-nominated and most-awarded. In December, Brad Paisley and Miranda Lambert topped multiple critics’ 2009 all-genre “best” lists; Paisley’s American Saturday Night was chosen Time Magazine’s #1 album and Lambert’s Revolution received Entertainment Weekly’s top honor.

Sony Music Nashville includes its four country label operations – RCA, Columbia, BNA and Arista Nashville – and Provident Music Group, one of the world’s leading Christian music companies. Sony Music Nashville is a division of Sony Music Entertainment.