Universal Music Group Nashville names SVP media, artist relations

NASHVILLE, Tenn. Universal Music Group Nashville, a division of Universal Music Group, has appointed Beverly Keel to SVP media and artist relations. The announcement was made by Luke Lewis, chairman and CEO of Universal Music Group Nashville, to whom Keel reports.

"We are delighted to welcome someone of Beverly's creative caliber to the Universal Music family," stated Lewis. "Her specific expertise in media, content creation and deep experience across a broad range of disciplines make Beverly ideally suited to spearhead a wide range of communications activities that will help propel our artists and brands forward."

Keel is a professor in the Department of Recording Industry at Middle Tennessee State University, where she serves as director of the John Seigenthaler Chair of Excellence in First Amendment Studies. She will continue her affiliation with the university. She is also the president of the International Association for the Study of Popular Music-US.  She spent a decade as the Nashville correspondent for People Magazine and served as the celebrity columnist at the Tennessean newspaper for two years, during which time she won the Charlie Lamb Award for Excellence in Country Music Journalism. She was also an entertainment editor of American Profile magazine and served as editor of CMT Life.