Stealing Angels

Skyville Records has entered an exclusive worldwide distribution deal with Sony Music Nashville. The fall debut from Stealing Angels will be the first release via the new partnership.

Under the agreement, Sony Music Nashville will offer manufacturing, sales, copyright administration and website development. Under the creative direction of producer Paul Worley, Skyville will find, develop and produce the talent, as well as handle promotion, business development and legal affairs for its roster.
“Paul Worley has amassed an amazing track record through the years,” remarks Gary Overton, Chairman & CEO, Sony Music Nashville. “Supported by his talented staff and roster, Skyville is poised for an exciting future, and we’re privileged to share in it.”
“Our partnership with Sony Nashville is a distinctive one,” declares Kevin Herring, Skyville Records President. “This speaks volumes about Gary’s vision for the future and for our mutual commitment to reshaping the music business in the 21st Century.”
Industry veterans Worley, Wally Wilson and Glen Morgan joined forces in 2004 to launch Skyline Publishing. Wayne Halper joined the organization in 2009 as head of business and legal affairs. After many years of successful chart action, the partners founded Skyville Records in 2010, with a focus and emphasis towards toward recognizing and nurturing the talents of new artists and artist/songwriters.

Thirty nine years is a long career span to be in one industry. But when it’s all at the same company—and as its leader for most of the time—then the proper word is “remarkable.” And so it seemed perfectly natural that a group of friends organized an evening with an invitation that read, “Join Us As We celebrate Joe Galante’s remarkable 39 years with RCA, BMG and Sony Music.” The party was hosted by a who’s who of industry heavyweights [see invitation graphic for a list] and held under a large tent next to Ronnie and Janine Dunn’s barn. Oh yeah, the invite also warned, “Please keep this a secret. It’s a surprise for Joe.”
About 135 guests (Joe’s fans—we were holding fans with his face on them) were waiting inside the tent when the “Chairman” arrived. As he told the crowd later, “I thought I was going with my wife Phran to an animal rescue fund raising event.” He was really surprised. (Keeping a secret among that many people in the music industry is pretty remarkable in itself.)
Seen schmoozing merrily under the big top and offering congratulations was an amazing collection of artists and industry leaders including Troy Tomlinson, Allen Butler, Skip Bishop, Steve and Ree Guyer Buchanan, Mary Ann McCready, Robert Deaton, Dale Morris, Tom Collins, Alan Kates, Tammy Genovese, David Gales, Jimmy Rector, Keith Stegall, David Corlew, Michael Vaden, Craig Wiseman, Clay Bradley, Pat Higdon, Tony Conway, Lisa Harless, Mark Bright, Mike Dungan, Luke Lewis, Clarence Spalding, Tom Baldrica, Allen Brown and Doc McGhee. Also present were Alan Jackson, The Warren Brothers, Renee Bell, Terry Hemmings, Barbara Mandrell, K.T. Oslin, Cindy Mabe, Ed Hardy, Sarah Trahern, Greg Hill, Whitney Daane, Nancy Russell, Paul Barnabee, Clint Higham and Lorrie Morgan.

Butch Waugh kicked off the program…which began with a short video containing a photo collage and a humorous vintage video clip of an evening when K.T. Oslin guest hosted Ralph Emery’s TNN evening talk show. She had Mr. Galante as a guest and after a bit of banter, she told the crowd that industry exec’s are so important, “but they’re not very interesting.” The tent crowd loved it…
Next was a group of speakers that told “Joe” stories. Kenny Chesney recalled that he was performing in an East TN bar when he heard that Joe had signed him to the label. “Joe changed my life,” Kenny testified with total sincerity.
Chesney also told a funny story of how it took some time to get used to Joe’s way of doing things, especially since Joe was from New York. “I had just finished recording some tracks and called Joe hoping he might come down the street to hear them that minute. I was brought up to say ‘Hey what are you doing? Are you busy?’ But when I said that to Joe, he snapped, ‘What do you mean what am I doing? I’m trying to keep this label train on its tracks. Of course I’m busy….”
Chesney’s story highlighted something that Joe’s friends in the tent already knew. He’s always been focused, organized and serious about giving 110% and not especially interested in small talk. But as several artists noted, if Joe believed in you, having him working to make your career successful was a treasured asset.
Kix Brooks praised Joe’s ability to “say the right things at the right time,” to him and partner Ronnie Dunn when the famous duo hit a rough patch in 2000. “Galante was able to renew our faith in what we were doing and inspire us, thereby adding an additional 10 career years,” Brooks said gratefully.
John Rich thanked Galante for getting “two shots.” “First with Lonestar, and then later as a solo act. He believed in what I was doing and gave me the chances.” (Speaking of shots, there were “39 Years” party-favor shot glasses, filled with tequila.)
Gerry House emceed, injecting a few of his trademark zingers in between speakers. House is another executive already sorely missed since he recently stepped down from his morning radio show post. (But that’s a story for another party…)
As the evening drew to a close, for those of us who witnessed many of Joe’s 39 years, it felt like more than just the end of a great party, it felt like the end of a era…

(L-R): Phran Galante, Barbara Brooks, Nancy Russell, Ronnie Dunn, Clint Higham, Butch Waugh, Joe Galante, Renee Bell and Kix Brooks

The New York Times has reported that Warner Music Group is putting itself in play. The major music label, one of the four remaining (Universal, Sony, EMI) has hired Goldman Sachs “to seek out potential buyers for the company, a process that will play out while Warner continues to explore buying the beleaguered British music giant EMI.”
Apparently, WMG had received several offers in recent months. The article specifically names Kohlberg Kravis Roberts as one of those having expressed interest.
Insiders note that Warner Music Group’s two main assets, the record label and Warner Chappell Music Publishing might be split. Interestingly, while preparing to place a For Sale sign in its front yard, WMG is also actively exploring talks with Citigroup to acquire EMI. EMI and Citigroup are embroiled in a debt process that might possibly result in the bank gaining control of EMI later this Spring.
The Times article, written by Tim Arango and Andrew Ross Sorkin, explains the dual approach saying it, “underscores the desire of Warner’s private equity owners to either make a big strategic move and double down on the music business by buying EMI, or cash out.” An investment group led by Edgar Bronfman Jr. purchased Warner Music from Time Warner in March 2004 for $2.6 billion.
K.K.R. is in a joint venture with Bertelsmann. The company has a large cash warchest and has been actively purchasing publishing catalogs.
The article cites a letter sent to shareholders by Mr. Bronfman who wrote, “Our confidence in the company’s future prospects is based on our consistent track record and our proven ability to outperform the rest of the industry.” WMG’s stock has had wide valuation swings. It reached a high of almost $30 per share in 2006 and fell below $2 per share in 2009. As of this writing (1/21 9:03 am CT) it was up $1.12 to $5.84 likely in response to the news about the possible deals described in this story.

Sony Music Nashville today announced that it and superstar Alan Jackson have ended their relationship. He was the first artist signed to the Arista roster in 1989—today under the Sony umbrella—leading to a successful partnership for more than 20 years.
According to the label’s official statement, “Sony Music Nashville wishes to thank Alan Jackson for their long association and the many hit records achieved as a result of that association. In an amicable parting, Sony confirms that Alan has delivered his final recordings to the company and wishes him well.”
“I’ve had a great run with Arista going all the way back to the beginning of my career when I signed with Tim DuBois,” explained Jackson in a statement. “I’ve gotten to work with some real great people along the way and we accomplished a lot. It just seems to me like the time may be right to change things up a bit and see what comes next.”
Jackson’s manager Nancy Russell relaunched her firm last year under the name the co-op. She has been building a team that includes former Sony exec Maurice Miner. Jackson is also represented by William Morris Endeavor.
He is gearing up for the first leg of his 2011 tour with sold-out shows in Canada, followed by his first tour of Australia. He is currently writing and working on songs for a new album.
With 50 million album sales to his credit, Jackson is a 16-time award winner at both the CMA and ACM Awards, a tally that includes three CMA Entertainer of the Year honors. He is a GRAMMY winner and has topped the country singles charts 35 times.