Spirit Music Signs Monty Criswell, Acquires Dixey Bar Catalog

Back row, (L-R): Freeman Wizer, Sr. Director of Creative, Spirit Music Nashville; Michelle Davey, Administration Coordinator/Office Manager, Spirit Music Nashville; Brian Bradford, Sr. Director of Administration, Spirit Music Nashville; Billy Lynn, VP, Creative, Spirit Music Nashville; Daniel Hill, President, Spirit Music Nashville. Front row, (L-R): AJ Burton, VP, Fluid Music Revolution; Monty Criswell; Frank Rogers, President/Founder, Fluid Music Revolution

Spirit Music Nashville has acquired Monty Criswell’s Dixey Bar Music catalog, and Spirit/Fluid Music Revolution has signed Criswell to a worldwide publishing agreement, as announced today by David Renzer, Chairman/CEO, Spirit Music Group; Jon Singer, COO/CFO, Spirit Music Group; Frank Rogers, President, Fluid Music Revolution, and Daniel Hill, President, Spirit Music Nashville.

Criswell’s catalog includes multiple Gold-certified and chart-topping songs that have been recorded by some of the biggest names in country music, including “Five More Minutes” by Scotty McCreery, Top 10 Gold-certified single “Like Jesus Does” by Eric Church, and Top 10 single “Just Fishin,’” by Trace Adkins, which was also nominated for a Grammy for Best Country Song. Criswell’s catalog includes songs recorded by artists including George Strait, Darius Rucker, Blake Shelton, Michael Ray, Chris Young, Kenny Chesney, Jake Owen, Josh Turner, Joe Nichols, Craig Morgan, Justin Moore, and Brantley Gilbert, among many others.

“Everyone here at Spirit is a huge fan of Monty’s work,” said David Renzer. “He’s a top level writer and we’re thrilled that he has chosen Spirit/Fluid as the home for both his great catalog as well as his future songwriting.”

“Writers like Monty don’t come around that often and we are honored that Monty has chosen Spirit/Fluid as his partner to create more great music together for years to come!” said Jon Singer.

“Fluid Music Revolution and Spirit Music Nashville are thrilled to be able to partner with Monty Criswell for the next chapter of his already impressive songwriting career,” said Frank Rogers. “Monty is an amazing talent and his passion for songwriting is contagious. This is going to be a fun ride!”

“I’m excited to begin this new chapter in my writing career with the two powerhouse teams of Spirit and Fluid Music Revolution. Their roster, creativity and outside-the-box thinking make for the perfect partnership,” said Monty Criswell.

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Lorie Hollabaugh

Hollabaugh, a staff writer at MusicRow magazine, has over 20 years of music business experience and has written for publications including American Profile, CMA Close Up, Nashville Arts And Entertainment, The Boot and Country Weekly. She has a Broadcast Journalism and Speech Communication degree from Texas Christian University, (go Horned Frogs), and welcomes your feedback or story ideas at lhollabaugh@musicrow.com.

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