Mike Curb
Chairman, Curb Records/Curb | Word Entertainment
In his sixth decade as a label executive, Curb, 75, can point to both a history of genre-crossing artists — “whether their music was considered too pop or too country at the time, they remained strong” — and a current run of country, pop and Christian hits. Lee Brice reached No. 1 on Hot Country Songs and No. 27 on the Billboard Hot 100 with “I Hope You’re Happy Now,” cocredited to his duet partner, Big Machine Records artist Carly Pearce. (“We shared that hit with my next-door neighbor Scott Borchetta,” says Curb.) Big Daddy Weave reached No. 1 on Christian Airplay with “I Know,” as did For King & Country with “Together” (with Tori Kelly and Kirk Franklin), which also hit No. 15 on Adult Contemporary.
How Country Can Help Move the Nation Forward: “Focus on improving our relationships with respect to racial stereotypes and with the LGBT community. Strengthen our outreach to those who are less fortunate. Use our influence to help people through the major health issues that exist today, with respect to mental illness, drug abuse and other areas.”
Mike Dungan
Chairman/CEO, Universal Music Group Nashville
Cindy Mabe
President, Universal Music Group Nashville
Royce Risser
Executive vp promotion, Universal Music Group Nashville
Brian Wright
Executive vp A&R, Universal Music Group Nashville
“Artist development is clicking on all cylinders,” says Dungan, 66, citing the success in the past year of rising acts Jordan Davis (No. 1 on Country Airplay with “Slow Dance in a Parking Lot”) and Travis Denning, whose “After a Few” reached the top of Country Airplay “after a crazy 65-week run,” adds Dungan. The company’s established stars — Carrie Underwood, Chris Stapleton, Darius Rucker, Dierks Bentley, Eric Church, George Strait, Kacey Musgraves, Keith Urban, Little Big Town and Sam Hunt, among others — have had their plans upended by the pandemic. The release of Luke Bryan’s Born Here Live Here Die Here shifted from April to August. New albums from Church and Stapleton, expected to coincide with tours now on hold, have been postponed. “Since there is no touring right now,” says Dungan, “several album releases have been pushed back.”
The Song He Turns To: “Alan Jackson’s version of ‘Song for the Life,’ penned by Rodney Crowell, who is one of my idols. It says, ‘Slow down and enjoy the little things around you.’ ” - Dungan
John Esposito
Chairman/CEO, Warner Music Nashville
Ben Kline
Executive vp/GM, Warner Music Nashville
Cris Lacy
Executive vp A&R, Warner Music Nashville
James Marsh
National director of radio and streaming, Warner Music Nashville
Kristen Williams
Senior vp radio, Warner Music Nashville
“This team has not just learned the art of working remotely — they have defined it,” says Esposito of his Warner Music Nashville staff. During the pandemic, Warner artist Kenny Chesney has achieved his ninth Billboard 200 No. 1 with Here and Now, and he claimed his 31st chart-topper on Country Airplay with the title track. Gabby Barrett’s “I Hope” became the first debut single by a woman to top Hot Country Songs. “Then there’s Brett Eldredge, Ashley McBryde, Ingrid Andress — all with their own incredible achievements,” says Esposito. “More important than the quantity of [our] successes, however, is their quality. The passion drives us.”