Lori Christian Leaves Executive VP of Marketing Role at UMG Nashville

While part of Universal Music Group Nashville since 2012, Lori Christian shocked many within the industry when she decided to exit her role as Executive VP of Marketing. Not starting with UMG Nashville in her executive role, Christian found her way through the business when she entered the publicity department. Giving 13 years to UMG Nashville, she found herself overseeing projects from a plethora of departments that included Mercury Nashville, Silver Wings Records, and even UMG Nashville’s film and TV arm. With an extensive resume, now the question is, where will she land?

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Back before she appeared to take over UMG Nashville, Christian graduated from Denison University and traveled to New York City. Able to work with NBC and Goodman Media, the executive gained crucial knowledge that would help her to become the Executive VP of Marketing. And thanks to her experience, she was named on Billboard’s Women in Music list two years in a row (2023-2024). 

Lori Christian Worked Alongside Top Country Music Artists

Eventually moving to Tennessee with her family, Christian used her talents to help artists in country music. Looking at the list of singers the executive worked with, it included Brenda Lee, Vince Gill, Keith Urban, Luke Bryan, Alan Jackson, Chris Stapleton, Carrie Underwood, Darius Rucker, Reba McEntire, Parker McCollum, and even George Strait. Again, just a sample of what she accomplished, Christian’s role at UMG Nashville helped the organization expand its grasp on the music industry, especially country music. 

With Christian working with McCollum when he signed with UMG Nashville in June 2019, the country singer released his first single with the label “Pretty Heart.” In October of the next year, McCollum released his EP Hollywood Gold. Since that moment, he went on to record albums like Gold Chain Cowboy in 2021, Never Enough in 2023, and his upcoming self-titled release. 

[RELATED: Here to Stay: Parker McCollum Sets the Record Straight on Distancing Himself From Country Music]

Making its rounds on the airwaves and streaming, McCollum gained praise for the song with comments reading, “Anyone with a heart, and this experience can feel this song. It may not be pure country but it’s Golden. Even more pure when you’ve lost the one you loved.”

Given the long list of artists Christian worked alongside, her absence at UMG Nashville is sure to be felt by other executives and even the artists who consider the label home.   

(MCA, 2018)