UMG’s Capitol Music Group has launched a brand new Nashville division, the corporate introduced Tuesday, encompassed of Capitol Data Nashville and the Capitol Christian Music Group. Nation veteran Candice Watkins has been tapped to steer the label.
Watkins will function Capitol Data Nashville’s president, in addition to Capitol Christian Music’s govt vp, the corporate mentioned. Watkins comes from Nashville powerhouse Huge Loud, the place she served as senior vp of selling and labored with artists together with Morgan Wallen, Hardy and Stephen Wilson Jr. amongst others. Earlier than her Huge Loud tenure, Watkins held roles at UMG Nashville, Pink Gentle Administration, Mozes Inc., Borman Leisure and Cross Level Church.
Brad O’Donnell, Capitol Christian Music Group’s president, will proceed to supervise the label, which incorporates Motown Gospel and Tamla, Capitol mentioned. Whereas Capitol Data Nashville bears the Capitol identify, earlier than right now’s shift, it operated beneath the UMG Nashville umbrella, which itself simply rebranded to Music Company of America. Capitol Data Nashville’s present roster of artists will keep beneath MCA whereas Watkins and her workforce will construct out Capitol Nashville’s roster.
“This reorganization displays our dedication to rising our Nashville operations as a core inventive hub in Christian, gospel and nation music,” Capitol Music Group CEO Tom March mentioned in a press release. “We’re wanting ahead to signing and creating the following era of nation artists on Capitol Data Nashville and are thrilled to have an govt of the caliber of Candice Watkins to steer our formidable plans in nation music whereas additionally bringing her experience to our gospel and christian music operations.”
At present’s information is the most recent in a months-long change in UMG’s nation operations, and yet one more Nashville growth for UMG’s LA-based Interscope Capitol Labels Group. Again in February, Mike Harris was appointed CEO of UMG Nashville, changing Cindy Mabe. (Dave Cobb additionally got here on as chief inventive officer.) By April, UMG introduced the MCA rebrand. As for Interscope Capitol, the label group additionally introduced the revival of famed label Misplaced Freeway Data, bringing on Kacey Musgraves in April.
“This new construction will empower our Nashville executives to raised serve the unimaginable artists on our roster. Candice is a superb music advertising govt who has an incredible observe file in creating profession artists,” Interscope Capitol chairman John Janick mentioned in a press release. “Having her lead our nation music enterprise in Nashville and in addition add her in depth artist growth experience to our CCMG workforce goes to be nice for our artists and for all the govt workforce.”
In a press release, Watkins known as it “a real honor” to tackle the brand new govt roles at Capitol.
“These labels have a wealthy legacy in partnering with among the most good artists of our business and I sit up for contributing to its continued success and cultural impression,” Watkins mentioned. “Excited to collaborate with John, Tom, Lillia and Brad in boldly championing creatives and visionaries.”
