Universal Music Group has announced a reorganization of its Nashville-based operations, appointing Mike Harris to CEO and Grammy-winning producer Dave Cobb to Chief Creative Officer.

“We see an incredible opportunity to expand our presence in Nashville and build upon our industry leading track record,” shares Sir Lucian Grainge, Chairman and CEO of UMG. “The worldwide success of our country artists demonstrate that the genre truly has no boundaries and I’m excited for what lies ahead creatively and commercially.”

As revealed earlier today, Cindy Mabe, Chair and CEO of UMG Nashville, is leaving the company to pursue new opportunities.

Grainge adds, “I want to thank Cindy Mabe for all her contributions to our Nashville company. She leaves UMG with our gratitude and respect.”

Harris formerly served as COO, EVP of UMG Nashville before announcing his departure last year. He held that role since joining the company in 2016. Prior to that, he spent 15 years at EMI, where he held various positions including, most recently, EVP GM for Caroline, a division of the Capitol Music Group/EMI.

“I am humbled to have been asked by Sir Lucian to lead UMG Nashville at such an important and exciting time in country music. I also look forward to work closely with Dave Cobb, the amazing roster of artists and my friends at UMG Nashville,” Harris shares.

Cobb adds, “I am incredibly excited to work with Mike Harris, I’m here to honor the past, and look to the future.”

Cobb is one of Music City’s most in-demand collaborators, regardless of genre, and has worked with and produced countless acclaimed artists and albums including Chris Stapleton’s six times-Platinum Traveller, Jason Isbell’s Southeastern and Brandi Carlile’s By The Way I Forgive You. His recent works include albums for Mumford & Sons, Red Clay Strays, Zayn, Greta Van Fleet, Jamey Johnson, Little Big Town, Reba McEntire and music for Deliver Me From Nowhere, the forthcoming Bruce Springsteen biopic, adding to his illustrious and diverse discography featuring Barry Gibb, The Highwomen, Slash, Marcus King, Teddy Swims, Stevie Nicks, Whiskey Myers, Zach Bryan, Colter Wall and many more.

Cindy Mabe has exited her position as Chair & CEO of Universal Music Group Nashville after two years in the role and more than 18 with the company, according to reports by Country Aircheck and Billboard. UMG Nashville representatives did not respond to requests for comment.

During her tenure at UMG, Mabe has helped guide and grow the careers of some of country music’s biggest stars, including Luke Bryan, Eric Church, Jordan Davis, Mickey Guyton, Sam Hunt, Alan Jackson, Parker McCollum, Reba McEntire, Kacey Musgraves, Jon Pardi, Chris Stapleton, George Strait, Carrie Underwood, Keith Urban, Brothers Osborne and Little Big Town, among countless others. She has earned multiple honors, including the Country Music Hall of Fame’s Louise Scruggs Memorial Forum Award and the SOURCE Hall of Fame Award.

Mabe succeeded Mike Dungan, who retired from the company after more than a decade in the role in 2023.

A North Carolina native, Mabe attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and graduated from Belmont University in Nashville with a B.S. in Business Administration. She bagan her career as promotions coordinator at RCA Nashville, before shifting to sales and then artist marketing and development. She later served as Senior Director of Marketing and Artist Development at Arista Records Nashville from 1999-2007 before joining Capitol Records.

Mabe spent five years at Capitol Records Nashville, where she held the position of SVP of Marketing and played an integral role in the long-term creative and commercial success of the label. She joined UMG Nashville in 2012 as Senior Vice President of Marketing, where she was responsible for leading marketing across UMG’s expanded suite of country labels following its acquisition of EMI.

Mabe is one of Music Row’s most esteemed executives. She became Nashville’s highest-ranking woman label executive in 2014 when she was appointed as UMG Nashville President, and she made history again by becoming the first woman to serve as Chair and CEO of a Nashville-based major label group.

MusicRow is proud to reveal the honorees for the Rising Women on the Row Class of 2025. These six female executives are making a significant impact on Nashville’s country music industry, including: Lydia Schultz Cahill, Rakiyah Marshall, Michelle Tigard Kammerer, Katie Kerkhover, Jessi Vaughn Stevenson and Julie Sturdivant.

City National Bank is Presenting Sponsor for the 2025 Rising Women on the Row, which will take place at the Omni Nashville Hotel at 8:30 a.m. March 20.

Now in its 12th year, MusicRow‘s annual Rising Women on the Row event has honored over 50 women in the Nashville music industry.

Tickets for Rising Women on the Row are now closed. They will not be sold at the door.

For any questions regarding the event, contact LB Cantrell at lbcantrell@musicrow.com.

This year’s honorees include:

Lydia Schultz Cahill – Senior Director, Creative Services, SESAC
Lydia Schultz Cahill is Senior Director of Creative Services at SESAC PRO, where she oversees the country genre in Nashville. She supports songwriter and publisher affiliates, recruits new talent and collaborates with artists and songwriters like Blanco Brown, Jon Nite, Allison Veltz Cruz, Dillon Carmichael and Jenny Tolman. Cahill also produces SESAC-sponsored events, including Tin Pan South, SESAC Presents at the Bluebird and songwriter showcases across the Southeast. Before joining SESAC in 2016, Cahill was Creative Director at Magic Mustang Music, where she worked with acclaimed songwriters Steve Bogard, Kristian Bush, Rob Hatch and Justin Lantz. She began her career as an assistant to Grammy-winning songwriter JD Souther and later held roles in the Legal and Finance Department at Broken Bow Records. A Wisconsin native, Cahill graduated from Belmont University with a bachelor’s degree in business administration from its Music Business program. In 2024, she completed her master’s degree in social work from the University of Tennessee.

Rakiyah Marshall – Founder + CEO, Back Blocks Music
Rakiyah Marshall is the Founder and CEO of Back Blocks, a full-service publishing, management and artist development company. Under her leadership, Back Blocks has guided the careers of Blake Pendergrass, Ashley Cooke, Tucker Wetmore and Lily Rose. Marshall and her team recently celebrated major milestones, including Cooke and Wetmore’s first No. 1 hits. Before founding Back Blocks, Marshall built a strong foundation in pop promotion at Republic Records in NYC, including time at UMG’s classical division (now Verve). She later brought her expertise in radio, streaming, marketing, and artist development to Nashville, working at Cornman Music under hall of fame songwriter, Brett James and BMG under Kos Weaver. There, she advocated for writers, placed notable songs and bridged Nashville with the global creative community. Now, Marshall continues to shape Back Blocks into a leading force in the industry, driving success for her roster through innovative strategies and dedicated advocacy.

Michelle Tigard Kammerer – Head of Country Music, Amazon Music
As Head of Country Music at Amazon Music, Michelle Tigard Kammerer has driven the streaming service’s growth in the genre since 2021. She oversees marketing, artist and label relations and innovative collaborations, managing influential brands like Country Heat. Under her leadership, Amazon Music has introduced new initiatives and strengthened connections between country artists and their fans. Kammerer’s career began at Creative Artists Agency (CAA), where she helped sign and launch the careers of several leading country acts. She then served as Senior Director of Brand Marketing and Strategic Partnerships at Country Radio Broadcasters, Inc. (CRB) before re-launching the historic Dot Records label under Big Machine Label Group as National Director of Marketing & Promotion. In 2017, she expanded her leadership as Senior National Director of Marketing & Promotion at BMLG Records, where she worked closely with a range of top artists. Now at Amazon Music, Kammerer continues to champion the evolution of country music, leveraging her experience across agencies, labels and streaming to innovate and elevate the genre.

Katie Kerkhover – SVP, A&R, North America, BBR Music Group/BMG
Joining BMG in 2020, Kerkhover currently serves as SVP, A&R, North America, a position she was elevated to in December 2024. Her first position at BMG was as Senior Director, Creative, in music publishing, where she managed BMG’s Nashville roster of songwriters, including Kurt Allison, Tully Kennedy, Stephen Wilson Jr., Emily Landis and Chayce Beckham, among others, while also signing and developing new songwriters and artists. Kerkhover was promoted to VP, A&R, Frontline Recordings for BMG Nashville in 2022, where she was responsible for BBR Music Group’s (BBRMG) roster of recording artists across its imprints Broken Bow Records, Stoney Creek Records and Wheelhouse Records, as well as scouting, signing and developing new talent. Since leading A&R for BBRMG, she’s worked with Jelly Roll, Lainey Wilson, Jason Aldean and Chayce Beckham and is working with Blake Shelton’s team on his BMG Nashville debut. Previously, Kerkhover served nearly three years as a Creative Manager at Sony/ATV and garnered experience as A&R, Creative at CAM Creative. Before jumping behind the scenes of the music industry, she spent years on the road as a performing musician often playing fiddle, guitar or providing backing vocals for acts like Sara Evans and Rebecca Lynn Howard.

Jessi Vaughn Stevenson – VP, A&R / Digital, Warner Chappell Music Nashville
Jessi Vaughn Stevenson is VP, A&R and Digital at Warner Chappell Music (WCM) Nashville, where she strategizes innovative opportunities and guidance for songwriters and artists. With a proven track record of success, Stevenson has helped advance the careers of influential country music creators, including Jessi Alexander, Aaron Raitiere, Rhett Akins, Parker McCollum, Riley Green, Hailey Whitters, Morgan Wallen, Randy Montana, Will Bundy, Lee Miller and Little Big Town, among others. Born and raised in Nolensville, Tennessee, Stevenson honed her industry acumen during her time at Belmont University, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in Music Business and gained valuable experience through roles at CMT, Warner Brothers Records, Bill Silva Entertainment and SoundExchange. In 2015, she founded JV Writer Management, successfully supporting the careers of award-winning songwriters Jessi Alexander and Jon Randall. At WCM, Stevenson champions diverse talent across genres, identifying and developing the next generation of hitmakers. While dedicated to her professional endeavors, Stevenson finds her greatest joy in motherhood and family.

Julie Sturdivant – Music Brand Partnerships Executive, CAA
Julie Sturdivant is a Music Brand Partnerships Executive at Creative Artists Agency (CAA) in Nashville, leading brand collaborations for artists like Jelly Roll, Cody Johnson, Keith Urban and Kelsea Ballerini. Over the past year, she orchestrated major partnerships, including Jelly Roll’s multi-year deal with HeyDude, Warren Zeiders’ ambassadorship with Wild Turkey’s 101 Bold Nights and Koe Wetzel’s collaboration with Rock & Roll Denim. She also brokered Charley Crockett’s campaign with The Alamo Foundation and Aaron Watson’s Texas-sized Super Bowl commercial with HEB. Sturdivant began her career on-air at KOST 103.5 in California before joining Universal Music Group-Interscope Records, where she worked on campaigns for Lady Gaga, All American Rejects and Black Eyed Peas. She later built a reputation for innovative marketing during her 12 years leading Marbaloo Marketing. With expertise spanning radio, global marketing and digital innovation, Sturdivant continues to create impactful partnerships in music.