Universal Music Group‘s workforce reductions have extended to MCA Nashville, where at least eight employees are departing across executive, promotion, marketing and business roles.
Employees affected
The departures include:
- Rob Femia, chief operating officer.
- Miranda McDonald, senior vice president of promotion and regional marketing.
- Taylor Viegut, vice president of e-commerce and business development.
- John Trapane, regional promotion director.
- Donna Jo Passuntino, regional promotion director.
- Ashley Knight, regional promotion director.
- Shannon Hogan, regional promotion director.
- Houston Gaither, director of radio marketing.
Executive appointments and staff tenures
Femia started at Universal Music Group Nashville in 2013 as vice president of business and legal affairs. He subsequently advanced within the organization and became chief operating officer in 2025.
McDonald was promoted to senior vice president of promotion and regional marketing earlier this year. Her responsibilities included overseeing promotion for MCA Nashville’s roster.
Viegut became the company’s first vice president of e-commerce and business development in 2025, following five years with the organization.
Trapane started at Capitol in 2009 and moved to EMI in 2012. Passuntino had spent nearly two decades with the label group.
Knight joined in 2013, followed by Hogan in 2021. Gaither came from Sony Music Nashville in 2024.
The departures form part of a broader restructuring at Universal Music Group.
