Sources: Sony Nashville to name Goodman CEO

Randy Goodman is poised to become the new CEO of Sony Nashville, sources told The Tennessean.

The job has been vacant since former CEO and Chairman Gary Overton and the company mutually parted ways in March.

Goodman has reached an agreement to take the job, but sources said the deal is not finalized. Goodman did not respond to requests for comment and a Sony spokesman said the company had no comment.

Goodman will be returning to his roots. He cut his teeth at RCA Nashville, first in marketing and publicity, and then worked his way up to general manager and senior vice president under revered executive Joe Galante.

Sony is one of three major record labels in Nashville and, though the top job in Nashville has been vacant for more than three months, the cupboard is certainly not bare. Sony Nashville counts Carrie Underwood, Brad Paisley, Kenny Chesney, Miranda Lambert and Garth Brooks among its artists.

Goodman left RCA to start Lyric Street Records in 1997, a country label owned by Disney. He currently works in artist management at Maverick Management, formerly Spalding Entertainment. Goodman represents former Lyric Street band Rascal Flatts.

Galante said he believed Goodman would be an excellent choice for the job, touting his experience, temperament, wide range of experience and appreciation for the proud legacies of Sony and RCA in Nashville.

"Randy grew up in the music business with some of the legends who are the basis of the Sony catalogue," Galante said. "Everyone from Dolly Parton to Waylon Jennings, Eddy Arnold, Charley Pride.

"He knows a number of the staff members. I think he has a world of experience, not only what he learned at RCA Nashville and RCA New York, but he also built his own company and then has had the last year to gain experience on the management side."

In addition to his 30 years of experience in the music industry, Goodman is also an established civic leader in Nashville. He was the co-chairman of Nashville Mayor Karl Dean's Music City Music Council, an advisory board that helped develop music-focused economic development initiatives and connect Music Row to Metro government.

In January Goodman was named to the Convention Center Authority's board of directors. His LinkedIn page indicates that Goodman served as CMA board chairman and president in 2008-09 and is currently a trustee for the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum.

"He is a people person," Galante said. "He is a music guy, he is an artist guy. He's passionate. He's smart. He's hungry to make it right in terms of the Sony legacy. I don't think there's a more perfect fit."

The looming hiring of Goodman comes with a word of warning, since rumors have been swirling around Sony Nashville naming a new CEO even before Overton's departure. In recent months, the focus has centered around executive Jason Owen at Sandbox Management. Owen declined to comment about his interest in the job in April.

Reach Nate Rau at 615-259-8094 and on Twitter @tnnaterau.