In a long-rumored move, Cindy Mabe has stepped down from her position as chair and CEO of Universal Music Nashville after nearly 18 years with the company and two in the role, multiple sources confirm to Variety. Mabe took the role in April 2023, a few months after longtime CEO Mike Dungan announced his retirement. She was the first woman to serve as head of a major label group in Nashville.
Her successor was not immediately announced; at the time of this article’s publication, the move had not been confirmed or commented upon by UMG’s home office.
Mabe’s move, which was rumored for months but first reported Thursday by Country Aircheck, makes UMGN the third major label to change leadership in recent months. Randy Phillips recently retired from his post as CEO of Sony Nashville and was replaced by Taylor Lindsey, and Warner Nashville saw Greg Nadel joining Cris Lacy as co-chair and co-president of Warner Nashville — which now reports to Warner Records chiefs Aaron Bay-Schuck and Tom Corson — with Ben Kline departing.
Mabe began her career at RCA Records in Nashville before moving over to Arista. She joined Capitol Nashville in 2007 — where she first worked with her predecessor, Mike Dungan — as senior VP of marketing and moved to UMG Nashville when the companies merged in 2012, and was named president two years later.
Mabe was appointed to the position of president back in 2014, two years after Dungan was named chairman/CEO. Their professional association dated back to 2008, when the two first began working together at the Capitol Nashville label. Together they established a two-person dynasty at the head of Universal Nashville that lasted until Dungan stepped down two years ago.
The UMG Nashville roster includes many of country’s top stars, including perennial Grammy and CMAs winner Chris Stapleton, whom Mabe championed from the start, along with hitmakers like Carrie Underwood, Keith Urban, Eric Church, Dierks Bentley, Darius Rucker, George Strait, Jon Pardi, Reba McEntire, Lady A, Little Big Town, Sam Hunt, Vince Gill and Parker McCollum.
