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I came across this article that was published on Feb. 29th.  What this means for Shania is unclear, but no one comes unscathed from changes in leadership unless they are very fortunate or really business savvy. 

Back in the late 90s there was a big record label shuffle involving Garth Brooks because he lobbied for Pat Quigley to be on the label displacing Schott Hendricks (he and Brooks did not get along), the former head. There were many artists that were either transferred from Liberty records Nashville (they closed in 1995) or already were on Capitol whose careers took a nose dive such as Tanya Tucker and Suzy Bogguss among others as Brooks was Quigley's main priority.  Anyways, this change may be a good thing for Shania or a not so good thing. The new CEO has a more contemporary/traditional country roster. What this means for Shania's pop projects is unclear.

Below is the article.

Capitol's Mike Dungan is named chairman and CEO of Universal Music Nashville Entertainment as Luke Lewis steps aside. Is Music Row bracing for a showdown or a reunion?

When is leaving the presidency of a major record label not really leaving the presidency of that label? Answer: When your past and future labels are due to merge eventually anyway.

At least that’s the expectation with country music kingpin Mike Dungan, who shocked much of the Music Row community by resigning his post in charge of Capitol Nashville to take over Universal’s Nashville operations. After word of the switch got out late last week, the move was officially announced today by UMG chairman Lucian Grainge.

The wrinkle is the proposed merger between EMI and Universal, which could pass through the various international approval processes this fall. Combining the recorded music units may leave Dungan back in charge of his old Capitol roster, on top of the Universal imprints about to be put under his command.

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That’s what many of the top acts currently signed to Capitol are banking on, since they’re about to lose having the most popular exec in Music City on their side. Indeed, Capitol Nashville has lately been the brightest spot for the struggling EMI, at least when it comes to new, not catalog, product. Among the Capitol acts that could suffer without such a hot leader at the rudder: Lady Antebellum, Darius Rucker, Alan Jackson, Keith Urban, Dierks Bentley, Eric Church, Luke Bryan, and Little Big Town.

“Anything could happen with the merger, but I’m confident we’ll be working with him again by the end of the year,” said one artist manager. “He’s left a good support team in place, so I’m not that worried. But there are those moments when you’re looking to get a hit across and Mike would be the guy to make a few phone calls to push it to the top. I’m a little nervous what we’ll do without his ability to come in and do that.”

But a Universal insider says Capitol staffers and execs shouldn't be all that stressed about the succession, pointing out that the executive plan is to increase investment in Capitol's A&R that will run parallel to those initiatives on the Universal side, not replace one with the other. Where the merger will affect departments on both sides is in back office functions.

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Dungan, who’s headed up Capitol Nashville since 2000, is staying put through the end of April, then becomes the chairman and CEO at UMG Nashville on May 1. In his new gig, he inherits a larger roster that includes Sugarland, George Strait, Shania Twain, Josh Turner, and Easton Corbin.

An unresolved question is what the future plans are for outgoing Universal Nashville chief Luke Lewis, (pictured below with Mercury Nashville/19 Recordings artist and American Idol runner-up Lauren Alaina) who’s been in charge of major labels for 20 years, far longer than any other exec in town.

One thing that’s certain, though some are loathe to believe it: It’s a friendly transition. “Luke wanted out,” insists one mover-and-shaker who’s been close to Lewis, 64. “He’s done this long enough, and he has two young kids at home. I think he just wants to run an independent label or something now. He wanted Mike as his successor.” Adds another source: "Luke and Mike are friends. It was Luke's idea to bring him in and it came months before Universal was even contemplating a bid to buy EMI." 

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Although the news came as a shock to most Capitol and Universal staffers, it was known to top insiders around Nashville for a while. A story going around has it that Sony Nashville head Gary Overton was flummoxed recently when both Dungan and Lewis showed up at a wine tasting event at his house, fearful that the two execs would be feuding over the transition-to-be. But the two label chiefs proceeded to surprise everyone in attendance by sitting down together and chatting up a storm.

The country industry will be pleased to see an amicable changing of the guard, since there is some bad blood left over from the last major Music Row transition, when Joe Galante left the long-time leadership of Sony without the company throwing him a farewell party, the sort of oversight that doesn’t go down well in as supposedly chummy  a town as Nashville.

Dungan leaves Capitol at a fairly convenient time, when most of its artists are between albums or on a second or third single off their latest projects – like Urban, whose "You Gonna Fly" is currently No. 1 on the Billboard country chart, and Bentley, whose "Home" is bulleted at No. 4.

The imminent release most in need of the Dungan touch is Alan Jackson’s first album for the label, which is due out in May. Dungan is expected to heavily work Jackson’s new single, “So You Don’t Have to Love Me Anymore,” before he makes the move.

Although Lewis and Galante were long the two titans in town, the most buzz-generating label heads in the last couple of years have been Dungan and Big Machine upstart Scott Borchetta. Dungan is credited with the unlikely success of reintroducing Hootie & the Blowfish’s Rucker as a country star, as well as establishing Urban and Lady Antebellum as superstars and resurrecting Trace Adkins’ career.

“When times were tough for EMI a few years ago and they were pressuring Mike big-time to put out albums earlier than he thought they were ready, he never wavered or caved, ever,” said one former Capitol exec who still admires Dungan. “He fought for his label team and artists against EMI at times, and kept everyone feeling like a family, even in hard times. He’s one of the most-liked guys in this town – and, he can cuss up a storm.”

Dungan may have to put his likeability to the test, though, if he’s forced to make some hard decisions upon getting to Universal. “He’s going to have to make a lot of roster cuts, especially if the merger happens,” says a manager, “and that’s the kind of stuff he really, really hates.”

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/mike-dungan-universal-music-nashville-luke-lewis-296062

Report: UMG To Spin Off Labels To Indies To Get Approval On EMI Purchase

July 23, 2012 at 3:40 AM (ET)

Two U.S. Senators Say UMG-EMI Deal 'Presents Significant Competition Issues

EU Regulators Reach Out To UMG Competitors

August 6, 2012 at 3:55 AM (PT)

UNIVERSAL MUSIC GROUP's proposed $1.9 billion takeover of EMI MUSIC, got some harsh words from leaders of a Senate committee, who sent a letter FRIDAY (8/4) to the FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION, writing that the deal "presents significant competition issues," and asking the agency to examine it closely.

"We believe this proposed acquisition presents significant competition issues that merit careful F.T.C. review to ensure that the transaction is not likely to cause substantial harm to competition in the affected markets," the letter signed by WISCONSIN Senator HERB KOHL and UTAH Senator MIKE LEE. Democrat KOHL is the chairman of the Judiciary subcommittee on antitrust issues, and Republican MIKE LEE is the subcommittee’s ranking minority member.

"In the course of this review, we also urge the commission to be mindful of the changes in the music industry in the last decade, particularly the shift to online distribution as the preferred way consumers purchase music," the senators added.

THE NEW YORK TIMES reports, "The letter reviews many of the major concerns raised by critics of the deal, like the possibility that it would give an expanded UNIVERSAL an unfair advantage in negotiating deals with digital services and in dealing with retailers of CDs, which still represent a majority, albeit a shrinking one, of the industry’s sales."

UNIVERSAL responded in a statement, writing "We appreciate the points raised in the joint letter from Chairman KOHL and Ranking Member LEE, as well as the committee's recognition of the historic changes in the music industry over the past decade. Since this deal was announced, we have worked closely with the FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION to address many of these issues, and will continue to do so. Our investment in EMI will create more opportunities for new and established artists, expand music output and support new digital services. We remain confident of earning regulatory approval."

The deal also continues to be scrutinized in EUROPE, where MARKE****CH.COM reports "anti-trust regulators are asking music industry rivals whether VIVENDI SA's UNIVERSAL MUSIC GROUP is proposing to sell off enough of its U.S. business."

The EU commission has extended its deadline for a decision on the merger to SEPTEMBER 27th.

A representative for the commission noted that it was normal procedure to send out questionnaires of this nature. "It's quite standard and is used to assess the impact of a merger," commission spokesman RYAN HEATH told DOW JONES NEWSWIRES.

http://www.allaccess.com/net-news/archive/story/108858/two-u-s-senators-say-umg-emi-deal-presents-signifi

EU Approval For UMG-EMI Deal Seems Imminent

September 6, 2012 at 4:05 AM (PT)

As reported by ALL ACCESS last week (NET NEWS 8/31), a vote is expected in the EUROPEAN UNION this month on approving UNIVERSAL MUSIC GROUP's $1.9 billion bid for EMI MUSIC. According to a report in BUSINESSWEEK.COM, citing three people familiar with the situation, "A positive vote on the deal by the national agencies may allow the EUROPEAN COMMISSION to rule on the purchase as soon as a SEPTEMBER 19th meeting, said two of the people, who couldn't be identified because the process isn’t public."

THE FINANCIAL TIMES now confirms "Barring any further mishaps, EMI -– the British music company behind THE BEATLES, THE SEX PISTOLS and KATY PERRY -– will shortly pass into French hands. If, as expected, European competition commissioner JOAQUÍN ALMUNIA clears the deal, with concessions, by SEPTEMBER 27th, UNIVERSAL and VIVENDI will no doubt celebrate. However, their victory is looking increasingly hollow."

The report notes the concessions UMG has to make to get approval to acquire EMI MUSIC, and notes the deal leaves, "CITIGROUP as arguably the biggest winner, as the bank will recover all of the money it lent Mr. HANDS [EMI's previous owner]. The loan led to five years of embarrassment after the deal went wrong, and costly legal fees for successfully defending Mr. HANDS' claims. UNIVERSAL's legal bills for its BRUSSELS battle will not be small, either. It seems it will be bankers and lawyers -– not music industry suits -– who are singing as EMI is broken up for good."

http://www.allaccess.com/net-news/archive/story/109962/eu-approval-for-umg-emi-deal-seems-imminent

Multiple Reports Have Columbia Co-Chair Steve Barnett Joining UMG To Head The Newly Acquired EMI Label

October 8, 2012 at 3:41 AM (PT)

The rumbles started getting louder FRIDAY (10/5), and it's looking as if UNIVERSAL MUSIC GROUP will hire COLUMBIA Co-Chairman STEVE BARNETT to move across the street and take over their newly acquired EMI labels. THE NEW YORK TIMES reports the "talks are still in progress," but that "BARNETT has already resigned from SONY."

It's assumed BARNETT would hold the title of Chairman of THE CAPITOL RECORDS GROUP, overseeing EMI's American labels, which include CAPITOL, VIRGIN and BLUE NOTE.

BARNETT's background is that of an artist manager, and he counted AC/DC as a client.

He has been with SONY since 1996, when he first joined EPIC.

http://www.allaccess.com/net-news/archive/story/111093/multiple-reports-have-columbia-co-chair-steve-barn