Sony Music Nashville executive VP Butch Waugh has announced plans to retire at the end of the year, capping off a successful, 37-year career in the music business, where he has worked in the pop, urban and country formats. He has spent 27 of those years with Sony Music Entertainment, including stints as a local promotion rep for RCA in Atlanta, and then executive positions in New York and Nashville. He has been part of Sony’s Music Row operation for a dozen years.

Following Waugh’s retirement, label group marketing VP Tom Baldrica and promotion VP Skip Bishop will report directly to Sony Music Nashville chairman Joe Galante.

Waugh’s career began at London Records in 1972, which led to a sales position with Together Distributing (A&M/Motown). He then moved into radio promotion, first with A&M in 1978 and subsequently with Capitol Records. He joined RCA Records in 1982 and was brought to New York in 1987, where he ultimately served as senior VP, promotion, before advancing to senior VP of the label. In 1997, Waugh relocated from New York to Nashville and became senior VP/GM of what was then the RCA Label Group/Nashville and is currently Sony Music Nashville. In 2001, he was promoted to his current position.

Friends and colleagues will be able to stay in touch with Waugh at butch.waugh@gmail.com.