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EMI Nashville chief confirms move to Universal

By | Published on Thursday 1 March 2012

Universal Music

As expected, the boss of EMI’s Nashville division, Mike Dungan, has jumped ship to take on the same role at Universal Music. He will replace the current boss of Universal Music Nashville, Luke Lewis, who is planning on launching a new music venture in partnership with the major.

Confirming the new appointment, Universal top man Lucian Grainge told reporters: “UMG is committed to expanding opportunities for artists on [Nashville’s] Music Row and Mike’s appointment is testament to that fact. He is one of music’s most formidable creative executives, whose determination, talent and passion for music have given rise to the careers of countless superstar artists. We’re delighted to welcome him to the UMG family”.

Dungan himself added: “I am thrilled to join the Universal team, honoured to represent the fine roster of artists under the storied MCA, Mercury, and Lost Highway labels, and proud to have the opportunity to expand on the great legacy that Luke Lewis has built”.

Of course, by the end of the year Dungan could again find himself overseeing EMI’s country music operations, assuming Universal’s bid to buy the EMI record companies gets regulator approval. Possibly anticipating that fact, it looks like EMI won’t replace Dungan in the short term, with the boss of the major’s other main Nashville-based business, EMI Christian Music Group Bill Hearn, getting overall responsibility for the company’s Capitol Nashville unit, with Dungan’s former number two Tom Becci leading on a day to day basis.



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