Brief
Universal Music’s MCA label cuts 14 staff in Nashville amid wider restructuring
The cuts affect the promotional team and senior leadership, reflecting UMG’s broader effort to save €250 million annually by 2026.
By Felo News Desk · Published
Universal Music Group’s Nashville‑based MCA label announced layoffs of roughly 14 staff members, including chief operating officer Rob Femia and senior vice president of promotion and regional marketing Miranda McDonald, according to Billboard.
What happened
The layoffs were reported on 15 October 2026, a day after UMG began company‑wide cutbacks. In addition to Femia and McDonald, the departures include vice president of e‑commerce and business development Taylor Viegut and regional promotion directors John Trapane, Donna Jo Passuntino, Ashley Knight and Shannon Hogan. Country Aircheck first reported the names; Billboard is verifying additional executives.
What the reports add
Billboard notes that the Nashville cuts are part of a three‑part cost‑cutting plan first announced in 2024, which targets €250 million ($271 million) in annual savings by the end of 2026. The plan called for €75 million reductions in 2024 and €125 million in 2025, with further savings expected in 2026. The restructuring also realigned UMG’s U.S. operations into an East Coast‑West Coast model, placing the East under the REPUBLIC umbrella led by Monte Lipman and the West under the Interscope‑Capitol branding headed by John Janick.
What was said
A UMG spokesperson told Billboard, “Our consistent success has been built on our ability to anticipate industry changes, act early to better serve all our artists and songwriters, and capture opportunities in music’s fastest‑growing areas… Where we have made the difficult decision to remove certain roles, we are deeply grateful for the contributions of the people leaving us.”
How it came about
The Nashville layoffs follow UMG’s broader restructuring announced in 2024, which also saw senior departures at Polydor, Def Jam, Interscope Geffen A&M and UMG’s UK and Irish divisions, as reported in Felo News on 14 October 2026.
Key facts
- Around 14 MCA staffers were let go, including COO Rob Femia and senior VP Miranda McDonald. (billboard.com)
- The cuts are part of UMG’s three‑part cost‑cutting plan aiming for €250 million annual savings by end‑2026. (billboard.com)
- UMG’s restructuring realigns U.S. operations into East Coast (REPUBLIC) and West Coast (Interscope‑Capitol) groups. (billboard.com)
Sources
- [1] billboard.com — originally reported as “UMG’s MCA Label Trims Staff as Part of Broader Corporate Restructuring”
