Cris Lacy Ascends to Chair and President of Warner Records Nashville

Cris Lacy has been named chair and president of the rebranded Warner Records Nashville, continuing her role as one of the highest ranking women label executives in Nashville.

Formerly Warner Music Nashville, the Nashville label has been renamed after coming under Warner Records Group in September 2024. Lacy will continue to report to Warner Records Group Co-chairman/CEO Aaron Bay-Schuck and Co-chairman/COO Tom Corson, as she has since the realignment over a year ago.

Gregg Nadel, who had served as Warner Music Nashville co-chair and co-president with Lacy for the last 14 months, will take on a new leadership role within Warner Music Group, which will be announced shortly.

Lacy started at Warner 20 years ago as an A&R executive after starting her career in publishing. She and Ben Kline became co-presidents at then-Warner Music Nashville in 2023, after John Esposito moved to a chairman emeritus role. Then last September, as Warner Music Nashville began reporting to Bay-Schuck and Corson, Kline left and Nadel came in to serve with Lacy.

“Nashville has always been synonymous with exceptional storytelling, expertly crafted lyrics and incomparable musicianship. Its growing influence is permeating other genres and is increasingly found front and center on the world’s stage,” Lacy said in a statement. “This move formalizes the cross-pollination that we’ve been developing over the years with our Los Angeles colleagues across areas such as A&R, marketing strategy, data/research, business affairs and radio promotion. Warner Records is a powerful brand, and we know that we’re stronger when we work together to propel our artists and their life’s work to new heights.”

Bay-Schuck and Corson jointly stated, “This rebrand marks an exciting new era for our flagship Nashville label — one that builds on everything that already makes it so special, guided by Cris’ extraordinary leadership. Her passion, vision, and unwavering respect for artistry define the label’s spirit and have earned the trust of the Nashville community. Together, we’re collaborating closer, and expanding the reach and opportunities for artists in a genre where the future feels limitless. This is an exciting next step as we continue to forge a global ecosystem that amplifies our competitive edge and impact for our artists.”

In addition to Warner Records U.S. and Warner Records Nashville, Warner Records Group includes Warner Records UK. Warner Records Nashville is home to such artists as Kenny Chesney, Cody  Johnson, Bailey Zimmerman, Ashley McBryde, Chase Matthew, Cole Swindell, Gavin Adcock and many others. The combined Warner Records U.S. and Warner Records Nashville rosters also include Zach Bryan and Dasha, among others.

For a brief moment earlier this year, all three major Nashville labels were helmed or co-helmed by women. Cindy Mabe‘s departure as CEO/chair of UMG Nashville (now MCA) in February leaves Warner Records Nashville and Sony Music Nashville as headed by women. Taylor Lindsey became chair/CEO at Sony following Randy Goodman’s departure in January.