Montage Reorganizing—Updated 2/19 at 3 PM
Here is the official word from a representative for Missouri-based Hedgewood International, LLC, the parent company of three-year-old Montage Music:
“Montage is not closing, but rather Montage is undergoing a reorganization. Our management examined the business and the marketplace, and unfortunately, realized the business would not be profitable given this challenging economic environment. Our intent (at this point) is to preserve existing assets and therefore it is not viable to continue investing under this current business model. Like all companies facing a volatile economy, an honest evaluation of the business model had to be done. Montage Publishing will remain operational and we will continue to support the song-writing efforts of our people. Those jobs will not be affected during this transition.”
Trent Jeffcoat, Bonnie Bishop, Tami Hinesh, Ben Cooper, Minnie Murphy, and Porter Howell are all signed to Montage’s publishing arm.
Artists on the label’s roster included The Road Hammers, Minnie Murphy, Little Texas and Andy Griggs. According to the Hedgewood rep, “The artists associated with Montage will be handled on a case-by-case basis. We have implemented a process by which we are notifying artists of the situation. At the time of notification we will explore all available options with the artists. At this time, it would be premature to discuss other specific opportunities.”
The Road Hammers (Jason McCoy, Clayton Bellamy, Chris Byrne) are set to release a new album in their home country Canada next week (2/24), and the rep says this plan will not be impacted by recent developments at Montage.
More than ten people were employed by the label headed by CEO/Pres. Allen Butler.
Former Southeast Regional Ted Wagner can be reached at tedwagner@comcast.net and 615-790-9007.
If you are a former Montage staffer and would like MusicRow to print your new contact information please post it as a comment to this story or email news@musicrow.com.
Allen should be running a major somewhere!!
You have to wonder how these sorts of ventures even make enough cash these days to cover the phone bills. This is certainly not the day of indies – in this regard. There may be a certain DIY that works in this economy but I can’t imagine where any viable dollars for this product could be coming from. Times are rough in Music City – except for the chosen few.