Taylor Lindsey Named Sony Music Nashville Chairman-CEO

Sony Music today announced the appointment of Taylor Lindsey as Chairman and CEO, Sony Music Nashville, beginning January 2025. She replaces outgoing chief Randy Goodman, who announced his retirement earlier this year. According to the announcement, Lindsey will oversee the company and its creative endeavors as well as Provident Entertainment, the Christian music companies. Lindsey will be based in Nashville and report to Rob Stringer, Chairman, Sony Music Group. 

Ken Robold has been named president and chief operating officer, reporting to Lindsey, with oversight of the company’s operations including Provident Entertainment. 

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In making the announcement, Stringer said, “I am very excited that we can promote a creative talent from within the company to this top position. I have witnessed Taylor become an all-round executive from an A&R background and she is ideally suited to plot the future for our Nashville team in a chapter where country music is clearly evolving and thriving as a key musical genre. 

“I am also so pleased that simultaneously to Taylor’s appointment Ken will be in an important wider role helping her build a new era for Sony Music Nashville.” 

Lindsey said, “I’m very grateful to step into this role. Along with Ken and the incredible SMN team, we are committed to fostering collaboration with our artists, creators, and fans, and will create a vibrant community that not only honors our rich heritage in storytelling but also redefines the sound of country music for generations.”

Lindsey has been head of A&R for the Company since 2021, most recently serving as executive VP. She has worked closely with the company’s roster, including Old Dominion, Luke Combs, Megan Moroney, Maren Morris, Ryan Hurd and Mitchell Tenpenny, among others. 

Prior to joining in 2013, Lindsey worked in A&R at BMG Publishing where she represented Grammy-award winning songwriters such as Hillary Lindsey and Tony Lane, connecting all of them with recording opportunities and developing their talent. 

Robold joined Sony Music Nashville in 2015 as executive VP and COO, overseeing various departments including Commercial Partnerships which works with digital service providers on opportunities for its artists. 

Previously, he was president of Zac Brown’s Southern Ground Artists and spent 22 years at Universal Music Group, serving in a variety of positions including Executive Vice President and General Manager of their Nashville company. Robold is a past Chairman of the Academy of Country Music (ACM) Board of Directors and President of the Board of Directors for Leadership Music and currently holds board positions for the Country Music Association (CMA) and Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).