Mike Sistad and Evyn Mustoe Johnston have left ASCAP‘s Nashville office.
That’s according to Nashville trade outlet MusicRow, which reported the exits on Thursday (October 15) and published statements from both executives. Billboard also reported the departures.
MBW has reached out to ASCAP to confirm the news.
Sistad was Vice President, Nashville Membership, at the US performing rights organization, and had worked at ASCAP since 2001. Johnston, most recently an Assistant Vice President at ASCAP, joined the organization’s Nashville team in 2012.
MusicRow described the exits as unexpected.
“I am proud of our Nashville team and my 25+ years with ASCAP,” said Sistad in a statement published by MusicRow. “My heart is, and always will be, with the songwriters and musicians that give this town its voice.
“Thank you to Connie Bradley for bringing me to ASCAP and all my friends in our Nashville Music community. I look forward to my next chapter and will see you soon.”
“I am proud of our Nashville team and my 25+ years with ASCAP. My heart is, and always will be, with the songwriters and musicians that give this town its voice.”
Mike Sistad (Via MusicRow)
Bradley, who died in 2021, led ASCAP’s Nashville office for more than three decades. A 2022 MusicRow profile credits her with recruiting Sistad to the organization’s Membership team.
“Nashville is home, music is a huge part of who I am, and I’m excited to see how I can continue to be an advocate for songwriters, publishers, and all creators in this town I love so much.”
Evyn Mustoe Johnston (Via MusicRow)
“I have deep respect, love, and am extremely grateful for every experience and memory that came with my nearly 15 years at ASCAP,” said Johnston. “Nashville is home, music is a huge part of who I am, and I’m excited to see how I can continue to be an advocate for songwriters, publishers, and all creators in this town I love so much.”
According to MusicRow, Sistad “helped drive major market share growth” at ASCAP.
As VP, he handled relationships with several of ASCAP’s biggest names, including Ashley Gorley, a 12-time ASCAP Country Music Songwriter of the Year.
He also looked after recording artists Alan Jackson, Garth Brooks, Carly Pearce, Brothers Osborne, Kelsea Ballerini, Jordan Davis, Old Dominion, Brandy Clark, and Chris Stapleton, as well as hit songwriters Craig Wiseman, Josh Osborne, and Hillary Lindsey. In 2019, ASCAP credited him with signing and nurturing five of those artists: Stapleton, Ballerini, Old Dominion, Brothers Osborne, and Pearce.
The report also credits Sistad with being “instrumental in developing ASCAP’s next generation of country songwriter-artists,” naming Nate Smith, Hailey Whitters, and George Birge.
Before joining ASCAP, Sistad spent nine years in A&R at Arista Records Nashville and played in Phil Vassar‘s band.
At ASCAP, Johnston worked with emerging and established talent in a range of genres, the report added.
She oversaw ASCAP’s partnerships with festivals including the 30A Songwriters Festival, AmericanaFest, and the Pilgrimage Music & Cultural Festival, arranging events and performance slots for ASCAP members.
She also helped organize ASCAP programming for its members, including showcases, song camps, and mixers.
Sistad took charge of ASCAP’s Nashville Membership team in June 2019, when he succeeded Michael Martin, who left ASCAP to return to music publishing.
At the time, ASCAP’s EVP of Membership, John Titta, said: “Mike has been an essential member of our Membership team for many years, and his understanding of the needs of our valuable songwriter and publisher community in Nashville is unparalleled.
“His reputation as a fierce advocate for songwriters and his close bonds with our Nashville members make him the perfect choice to lead our talented team in Music City.”
Since April 2025, ASCAP’s relations with its songwriters, lyricists, and composers have been overseen by Nicole George-Middleton, whom the PRO promoted that month to EVP & Head of Creative Membership.
In that role, George-Middleton also leads ASCAP’s Creative Membership Department, reporting to CEO Elizabeth Matthews.
ASCAP paid out a record USD $1.759 billion to songwriters, composers, and music publishers in 2025, up 3.7% year over year.
The PRO’s revenue also hit an all-time high, rising 6.0% to USD $1.945 billion, while its membership reached 1.1 million.
Last month, ASCAP named Jackson Wagener as SVP and Head of General Licensing, effective January 1, 2027.Music Business Worldwide
