Mike Dungan, UMG Nashville CEO, to retire
After 43 years in the music industry, Mike Dungan, 68 -- the chief executive officer of Universal Music Group's Nashville office -- has announced his impending retirement. Via news reports, current UMG Nashville president Cindy Mabe is expected to assume Dungan's position in March 2023.
In a memo sent to his staff, Dungan -- who has been in the position since 2012 -- stated, "For 43 years, the music business has been my home -- smiling, dialing, selling, hustling, laughing, doing my part to help the art and magic realize its potential. And loving every minute of it. I've lived a charmed life, and there are no words to describe how grateful I am, and how blessed I feel for everyone that I have encountered along the way. I'm also proud to boast that through it all, with little exception, I have been 'all-in' as a competitor and as a friend."
Cincinnati native Dungan's career started in rock promotion for RCA Records from 1979 through 1987, including successes with acts including Hall and Oates, the Pointer Sisters and Rick Springfield. After a stop at BMG, he arrived in country music in 1990 as a marketing chief via Clive Davis' newly born country music division at Arista Records. A decade later, in 2002, he was named president at Capitol Nashville. He held the position for 12 years before moving to UMG Nashville as CEO in 2014. Notable among his many successes at the label includes Luke Bryan becoming a stadium touring chart-topper with 30 No. 1 Billboard Country Airplay chart singles.
UMG's overall chairman and CEO, Lucian Grainge added, "Mike is a unique force. He has had an incredible impact on the careers and well-being of so many in Nashville through the years -- from artists to employees. After a brilliant four decades in Nashville, and with our team they are well-positioned for continued strength, Mike is making an admirable and well-deserved life change. And while he won't be serving in his CEO capacity, I've asked him to continue to contribute to areas that we're both passionate about -- breaking genre barriers and delivering critical support to artists past and present. I am deeply grateful to Mike for all he has done for our company and our artists and congratulate him on his unprecedented career success. I'm so pleased we will continue to have the benefit of his experience, deep relationships and wisdom."
As for Mabe, the Nashville industry veteran has a quarter-century of experience, having served alongside Dungan as UMG Nashville's president since 2014, two years after Dungan's appointment as CEO. Her assumption of the position is noteworthy as it makes her the first woman to run one of country music's most influential label groups.
UMG Nashville has shepherded the emergence of a multitude of country music's greatest-selling concert and sales acts of the past two decades. These include Dierks Bentley, Eric Church, Jordan Davis, Vince Gill, Tyler Hubbard, Sam Hunt, Lady A, Little Big Town, Parker McCollum, Reba McEntire, Jon Pardi, Darius Rucker, George Strait and Carrie Underwood.
For more information on all things UMG Nashville, visit https://www.umgnashville.com.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Mike Dungan, UMG Nashville CEO, to retire
