UMPG’s Cyndi Forman Honored With Belmont’s 2018 Music City Milestone Award

Pictured (L-R): Curb College of Entertainment and Music Business Dean Doug Howard, Universal Music Publishing Group Nashville Executive Vice President/General Manager Kent Earls, Atlantic Records recording artist Hunter Hayes, Cyndi Forman, Patrick Joseph Music President Pat Higdon, ASCAP Senior Director of Strategic Services Kele Currier and Curb College Instructor of Music Business Dan Keen

Cyndi Forman, Vice President of Creative for Universal Music Publishing Group, is the latest recipient of the Music City Milestone Award from Belmont University’s Mike Curb College of Entertainment and Music Business and industry partner ASCAP. The MCMA celebrates Belmont’s connection with Music Row while recognizing a Belmont graduate who has achieved truly superlative success in the entertainment and music industries early in their career.

Along with publishing executives and friends in attendance, Atlantic Records recording artist Hunter Hayes surprised Forman at the event in her honor. Forman is credited with signing and developing Hayes.

“At the ceremony honoring Cyndi Forman our dean, Doug Howard, and I noticed that everyone who spoke in tribute to her not only commented on her success but how she did it,” said Curb College Instructor of Music Business Dan Keen. “Every speaker praised her for the love and grace that she showers on the songwriters and colleagues with whom she works. As Doug Howard said, ‘Cyndi is a perfect example of what we strive for at Belmont University.’”

“I am so grateful to have been honored by my alma mater, Belmont University, and ASCAP with the Music City Milestone Award,” said Forman. “In 20 years of being part of the Music Row community, I’ve never felt so much love and support from my peers as I have this week. This recognition means so much, and I’m proud to be in the company of past recipients who I admire and respect.”

After obtaining her Music Business degree from Belmont, Forman became creative director at Balmur Entertainment. In 2002, she joined Almo Irving Music which became part of Universal Music Publishing Group in 2003 where she assumed the role of creative director. She was promoted to senior creative director there and secured many cuts. Along with Hunter Hayes, she currently works with Ryan Hurd, Sam Ellis and Striking Matches. In 2013, she was recognized as one of Music Row’s Rising Women on The Row by MusicRow Magazine, and the Nashville Business Journal also recently recognized Forman at their annual Women in Music City Awards.

Previous Music City Milestone Award recipients include Beka Tischker, Ben Vaughn, Connie Harrington, Ashley Gorley, Rusty Gaston, LeAnn Phelan and Carla Wallace.

• Author
• Recent Posts

Lorie Hollabaugh

Hollabaugh, a staff writer at MusicRow magazine, has over 20 years of music business experience and has written for publications including American Profile, CMA Close Up, Nashville Arts And Entertainment, The Boot and Country Weekly. She has a Broadcast Journalism and Speech Communication degree from Texas Christian University, (go Horned Frogs), and welcomes your feedback or story ideas at lhollabaugh@musicrow.com.

Latest posts by Lorie Hollabaugh (see all)

• Jason Isbell’s ShoalsFest Returns In October - May 6, 2026
• ALABAMA Announces Fan Appreciation Week Events - May 6, 2026
• Dylan Gossett & Charles Wesley Godwin Announce Co-Headlining Tour - May 6, 2026