Show Dog Nashville
Encyclopedia
Show Dog-Universal Music is an American independent record label
specializing in country music
artists. It was formed from the merger of Show Dog Nashville and Universal South Records in 2009. Show Dog Nashville was founded in 2005 by singer Toby Keith
, originally as a joint venture with former DreamWorks Records
executive Scott Borchetta, while Universal South was founded in 2001. The two labels merged in December 2009.
by record producer
s Tony Brown
and Tim DuBois
. The label specialized in country music
artists, including Joe Nichols, Randy Houser
, Phil Vassar
and Marty Stuart
, as well as alternative country
acts Shooter Jennings
and Cross Canadian Ragweed
. In 2005, it partnered with the talent show Nashville Star
, offering a recording contract to Season 3 winner Erika Jo
. George Canyon
, another Nashville Star contestant, also recorded for the label.
Show Dog Nashville was founded in 2005 by Toby Keith
shortly after the dissolution of DreamWorks Records
, the label to which he was signed at the time. DreamWorks Records executive Scott Borchetta was its chief executive officer
, and his own Big Machine Records
label originally shared much of its staff. By March 2006, Show Dog and Big Machine split into separately-staffed labels, although Keith retained his financial stake in Big Machine. Acts who released works for Show Dog included Carter's Chord
, Trailer Choir
, Mica Roberts
, Lindsey Haun
and Mac McAnally
.
In December 2009, Show Dog Records and Universal South merged to form Show Dog-Universal Music. One month later, Trace Adkins
left Capitol Records
Nashville to become the first post-merger signee to the label, and the label's roster was announced.
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
specializing in country music
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
artists. It was formed from the merger of Show Dog Nashville and Universal South Records in 2009. Show Dog Nashville was founded in 2005 by singer Toby Keith
Toby Keith
Toby Keith Covel , best known as Toby Keith, is an American country music singer-songwriter, record producer and actor. Keith released his first four studio albums — 1993's Toby Keith, 1994's Boomtown, 1996's Blue Moon and 1997's Dream Walkin, plus a Greatest Hits package for various divisions of...
, originally as a joint venture with former DreamWorks Records
DreamWorks Records
DreamWorks Records was an American record label. Founded in 1996 by David Geffen, Steven Spielberg and Jeffrey Katzenberg as a subsidiary of DreamWorks SKG, the label operated until 2005 when it was shut down...
executive Scott Borchetta, while Universal South was founded in 2001. The two labels merged in December 2009.
History
Universal South Records was started in 2001 under Universal Music GroupUniversal Music Group
Universal Music Group is an American music group, the largest of the "big four" record companies by its commanding market share and its multitude of global operations...
by record producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
s Tony Brown
Tony Brown (record producer)
Tony Brown is an American country music record producer.He was born in Greensboro, North Carolina.Brown played piano for Elvis Presley. He toured with the TCB Band for much of Presley's final two years and was a part of the 1976 "Jungle Room" recording sessions at Graceland...
and Tim DuBois
Tim DuBois
Tim DuBois is a Nashville-based music executive. He attended Oklahoma State University and received a B.A. and M.A. in Accounting. He then entered into the music business and has taken part in multiple aspects of the industry including songwriting, record labels, management, and production...
. The label specialized in country music
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
artists, including Joe Nichols, Randy Houser
Randy Houser
Shawn Randolph "Randy" Houser is an American country music artist. Signed to the Universal South Records label in 2008, he charted the single "Anything Goes" that year...
, Phil Vassar
Phil Vassar
Phil Vassar is an American country music artist. Vassar made his debut on the country music scene in the late 1990s, co-writing singles for several country artists, including Tim McGraw , Jo Dee Messina , Collin Raye , and Alan Jackson Phil Vassar (born May 28, 1964 in Lynchburg, Virginia) is an...
and Marty Stuart
Marty Stuart
John Martin "Marty" Stuart is an American country music singer-songwriter, known for both his traditional style, and eclectic merging of rockabilly, honky tonk, and traditional country music...
, as well as alternative country
Alternative country
Alternative country is a loosely defined sub-genre of country music, which includes acts that differ significantly in style from mainstream or pop country music...
acts Shooter Jennings
Shooter Jennings
Waylon Albright "Shooter" Jennings is an American singer-songwriter active in the country music and Southern rock genres as well as making his first foray into psychedelic rock in 2009...
and Cross Canadian Ragweed
Cross Canadian Ragweed
Cross Canadian Ragweed was an American Red Dirt/Texas Country/Country rock band. The name of the band came from the combination of three band members' names, Grady Cross , Cody Canada , and Randy Ragsdale . Jeremy Plato's name was not involved in the band naming...
. In 2005, it partnered with the talent show Nashville Star
Nashville Star
Nashville Star is an American reality television program. It was transmitted during mid-2008 on NBC, following five seasons on USA Network. It premiered on March 8, 2003, and its five seasons on USA made it the longest-running competition series on cable television. In Canada, the show aired on CMT...
, offering a recording contract to Season 3 winner Erika Jo
Erika Jo
Erika Jo Heriges , known simply by the stage name Erika Jo, is an American country music recording artist who was declared winner of the 2005 season of the Nashville Star television program. Eighteen years old at the time, Erika Jo is both the youngest person to win the competition and the first...
. George Canyon
George Canyon
George Canyon is a Canadian country music singer. He was runner up Nashville Star 2 in 2004. He grew up in Fox Brook, Pictou County, Nova Scotia and later lived in Hopewell, Nova Scotia before he moved west. He currently lives in High River, Alberta...
, another Nashville Star contestant, also recorded for the label.
Show Dog Nashville was founded in 2005 by Toby Keith
Toby Keith
Toby Keith Covel , best known as Toby Keith, is an American country music singer-songwriter, record producer and actor. Keith released his first four studio albums — 1993's Toby Keith, 1994's Boomtown, 1996's Blue Moon and 1997's Dream Walkin, plus a Greatest Hits package for various divisions of...
shortly after the dissolution of DreamWorks Records
DreamWorks Records
DreamWorks Records was an American record label. Founded in 1996 by David Geffen, Steven Spielberg and Jeffrey Katzenberg as a subsidiary of DreamWorks SKG, the label operated until 2005 when it was shut down...
, the label to which he was signed at the time. DreamWorks Records executive Scott Borchetta was its chief executive officer
Chief executive officer
A chief executive officer , managing director , Executive Director for non-profit organizations, or chief executive is the highest-ranking corporate officer or administrator in charge of total management of an organization...
, and his own Big Machine Records
Big Machine Records
Big Machine Records is an Independent American record label specializing in country music artists. It was launched in 2005 by former DreamWorks Records executive Scott Borchetta. The label was part of a joint venture between Borchetta and country singer Toby Keith, although Keith dropped his...
label originally shared much of its staff. By March 2006, Show Dog and Big Machine split into separately-staffed labels, although Keith retained his financial stake in Big Machine. Acts who released works for Show Dog included Carter's Chord
Carter's Chord
Carter's Chord is an American country music group composed of sisters Becky Robertson, Emily Fortney and Joanna Robertson, all of whom are singer-songwriters and vocalists...
, Trailer Choir
Trailer Choir
Trailer Choir is an American country music duo composed of vocalists Vinny Hickerson and Marc Fortney, known by their respective stage names Big Vinny and Butter. The group began as trio with Crystal Hoyt and was signed to Show Dog Nashville, a label owned by Toby Keith, in 2006...
, Mica Roberts
Mica Roberts
Mica Roberts is an American country music artist signed to Show Dog Nashville, a vanity label owned by country singer Toby Keith....
, Lindsey Haun
Lindsey Haun
Lindsey Haun is an American actress and singer. She was nominated for a Young Artist Award for her role in the 2000 Disney Channel original movie The Color of Friendship as Mahree Bok, and has starred in the film Broken Bridges, for which she also recorded a portion of the soundtrack.- Personal...
and Mac McAnally
Mac McAnally
Lyman Corbitt "Mac" McAnally, Jr. is an American country music singer-songwriter, session musician and record producer. In his career, he has recorded ten studio albums and eight singles. Two of his singles were hits on the Billboard Hot 100, and six more on the Hot Country Songs charts...
.
In December 2009, Show Dog Records and Universal South merged to form Show Dog-Universal Music. One month later, Trace Adkins
Trace Adkins
Tracy Darrell "Trace" Adkins is an American country music artist. He made his debut in 1996 with the album Dreamin' Out Loud, released on Capitol Records Nashville. Since then, Adkins has released seven more studio albums and two Greatest Hits compilations...
left Capitol Records
Capitol Records
Capitol Records is a major United States based record label, formerly located in Los Angeles, but operating in New York City as part of Capitol Music Group. Its former headquarters building, the Capitol Tower, is a major landmark near the corner of Hollywood and Vine...
Nashville to become the first post-merger signee to the label, and the label's roster was announced.
Acts on Show Dog-Universal Music
- Trace AdkinsTrace AdkinsTracy Darrell "Trace" Adkins is an American country music artist. He made his debut in 1996 with the album Dreamin' Out Loud, released on Capitol Records Nashville. Since then, Adkins has released seven more studio albums and two Greatest Hits compilations...
- Carter's ChordCarter's ChordCarter's Chord is an American country music group composed of sisters Becky Robertson, Emily Fortney and Joanna Robertson, all of whom are singer-songwriters and vocalists...
- Rose FalconRose FalconRose Falcon is an American singer/songwriter.As well as being an artist, her songs have been recorded by Faith Hill and Lady Antebellum....
- JT HodgesJT HodgesJT Hodges is an American country music singer. In 2011, he signed to Show Dog-Universal Music and released his debut single "Hunt You Down", which has charted on Hot Country Songs.-Early life:...
- Jessica James
- Toby KeithToby KeithToby Keith Covel , best known as Toby Keith, is an American country music singer-songwriter, record producer and actor. Keith released his first four studio albums — 1993's Toby Keith, 1994's Boomtown, 1996's Blue Moon and 1997's Dream Walkin, plus a Greatest Hits package for various divisions of...
- Joe Nichols
Acts formerly signed to Universal South
- Alvarado Road Show
- Baylie Brown
- Bering StraitBering Strait (band)Bering Strait was a country music band made up of musicians from Russia, that mixed country music with traditional Russian song making. Their style was sometimes called "redgrass"...
- George CanyonGeorge CanyonGeorge Canyon is a Canadian country music singer. He was runner up Nashville Star 2 in 2004. He grew up in Fox Brook, Pictou County, Nova Scotia and later lived in Hopewell, Nova Scotia before he moved west. He currently lives in High River, Alberta...
- Kevin CostnerKevin CostnerKevin Michael Costner is an American actor, singer, musician, producer, director, and businessman. He has been nominated for three BAFTA Awards, won two Academy Awards, and two Golden Globe Awards. Costner's roles include Lt. John J...
& Modern West - Cross Canadian RagweedCross Canadian RagweedCross Canadian Ragweed was an American Red Dirt/Texas Country/Country rock band. The name of the band came from the combination of three band members' names, Grady Cross , Cody Canada , and Randy Ragsdale . Jeremy Plato's name was not involved in the band naming...
- Katrina ElamKatrina ElamKatrina Ruth Elam is an American country music singer and songwriter. Signed to Universal South Records in 2004, she released her self-titled debut album that year, charting in the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks with the #29 "No End in Sight" and the #59 "I Want a Cowboy"...
- Eli Young BandEli Young BandEli Young Band is an American country music band based in Denton, Texas. The band is composed of Mike Eli , James Young , Jon Jones , and Chris Thompson . They released their self-titled debut album in 2002, followed by the Carnival records release Level in 2005...
- The ElmsThe Elms (band)The Elms were an American rock and roll band known for their breed of rootsy, blues-based rock, with the essence of the music of the 60's and 70's. Although the band had been in existence since 2000, 2001 saw the release of their first full-length album, with the first musical contribution from...
- Andy Gibson
- Regie HammRegie HammRegie Hamm is an American singer-songwriter. He has multiple credits as a songwriter, producer, musician , and artist.-Early and personal life:...
- Jennifer HansonJennifer HansonJennifer Kathleen Hanson is an American country music artist, as well as a former Miss California. Married to songwriter Mark Nesler since 1997, Hanson began her own musical career in 2002 with a self-titled debut album being issued on Capitol Records...
- Randy HouserRandy HouserShawn Randolph "Randy" Houser is an American country music artist. Signed to the Universal South Records label in 2008, he charted the single "Anything Goes" that year...
- Matt JenkinsMatt JenkinsMatt Jenkins is an American country music artist. Signed to Universal South Records in 2003, he released two singles in 2005, including "King of the Castle", a #51 on the Hot Country Songs charts, but did not release an album. He also appeared on the Fox Networks reality show Nashville, which was...
- Shooter JenningsShooter JenningsWaylon Albright "Shooter" Jennings is an American singer-songwriter active in the country music and Southern rock genres as well as making his first foray into psychedelic rock in 2009...
- Erika JoErika JoErika Jo Heriges , known simply by the stage name Erika Jo, is an American country music recording artist who was declared winner of the 2005 season of the Nashville Star television program. Eighteen years old at the time, Erika Jo is both the youngest person to win the competition and the first...
- Holly LamarHolly LamarHolly Lamar is an American country music singer-songwriter. Lamar co-wrote "Breathe," a number one country and adult contemporary single by Faith Hill. Her songs have also been recorded by Sara Evans, Wynonna Judd, Lonestar, Tim McGraw, Jo Dee Messina and Jessica Simpson, among others.In 2002,...
- Rockie LynneRockie LynneRockie Lynn Rash is an American country music artist, known professionally as Rockie Lynne. He was signed to Universal South Records in late 2005, releasing his self-titled debut album in early 2006. This album produced three singles on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts, including the...
- McHayesMcHayesMcHayes was an American country music duo established in 2003 by Wade Hayes , along with musician Mark McClurg . Prior to the duo's foundation, Hayes was a solo artist, and McClurg was a member of Alan Jackson's road band, The Strayhorns...
- Dean MillerDean MillerRoger Dean Miller, Jr. is an American country music artist, known professionally as Dean Miller. He is the son of Roger Miller, a country pop artist who had several hit singles between the 1960s and 1980s...
- Allison MoorerAllison MoorerAllison Moorer is an American alternative country singer and the younger sister of Shelby Lynne. She signed to MCA Nashville in 1998 and made her debut on the U.S...
- The Notorious Cherry BombsThe Notorious Cherry BombsThe Notorious Cherry Bombs, originally called The Cherry Bombs, was an American country music supergroup founded by singer-songwriter Rodney Crowell in 1980. A former member of Emmylou Harris's Hot Band, Crowell picked several former Hot Band members as his backing band, which he named The Cherry...
- Lee Roy ParnellLee Roy ParnellLee Roy Parnell is an American country music artist. Active since 1990, he has recorded eight studio albums, and has charted more than twenty singles on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks charts...
- Ashley Ray
- Sons of Sylvia
- Judson SpenceJudson SpenceJudson Spence is an American pop music singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist based in Nashville, Tennessee. He originally gained fame when he released his eponymously titled debut solo effort on Atlantic Records in 1988...
- Marty StuartMarty StuartJohn Martin "Marty" Stuart is an American country music singer-songwriter, known for both his traditional style, and eclectic merging of rockabilly, honky tonk, and traditional country music...
- 10 City Run
- Phil VassarPhil VassarPhil Vassar is an American country music artist. Vassar made his debut on the country music scene in the late 1990s, co-writing singles for several country artists, including Tim McGraw , Jo Dee Messina , Collin Raye , and Alan Jackson Phil Vassar (born May 28, 1964 in Lynchburg, Virginia) is an...
- Matthew WestMatthew WestOn July 26, 2002, only a week or two before signing a record contract with Universal South Records, West had an injury to his left arm which threatened his musical career and guitar playing. He says, "I locked myself out of my house. But I'd done that before, and I had a way of breaking in through...
- Amanda WilkinsonAmanda WilkinsonAmanda Nichole Wilkinson was born January 17, 1982, in Belleville, Ontario, Canada and was raised in nearby Trenton, Ontario. She is a Canadian country music singer. She is also a member of country group The Wilkinsons, which includes her father Steve and brother Tyler. She began singing early. Her...
- Holly WilliamsHolly WilliamsHolly Williams is an American country music artist. She is the daughter of Hank Williams, Jr. and half-sister of country singer Hank Williams III. Williams has released two studio albums: The Ones We Never Knew and Here with Me, in 2004 and 2009 respectively...
- Angela Wolff
Acts formerly signed to Show Dog Nashville
- Scotty EmerickScotty EmerickWalter Scott "Scotty" Emerick is an American country music artist, known primarily for his work with Toby Keith. In addition to penning several of Keith's singles, Emerick has also written for Sawyer Brown, George Strait and several other artists...
- Flynnville TrainFlynnville TrainFlynnville Train is an American country rock band. Their self-titled debut album was released on September 11, 2007, and it produced two singles on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs charts...
- Sarah Johns
- Lindsey HaunLindsey HaunLindsey Haun is an American actress and singer. She was nominated for a Young Artist Award for her role in the 2000 Disney Channel original movie The Color of Friendship as Mahree Bok, and has starred in the film Broken Bridges, for which she also recorded a portion of the soundtrack.- Personal...
- Rebecca Lynn HowardRebecca Lynn HowardRebecca Lynn Howard is an American country music artist. She has charted seven singles on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts, and has released three studio albums...
- Rushlow Harris
- Mac McAnallyMac McAnallyLyman Corbitt "Mac" McAnally, Jr. is an American country music singer-songwriter, session musician and record producer. In his career, he has recorded ten studio albums and eight singles. Two of his singles were hits on the Billboard Hot 100, and six more on the Hot Country Songs charts...
- Mica RobertsMica RobertsMica Roberts is an American country music artist signed to Show Dog Nashville, a vanity label owned by country singer Toby Keith....
- Trailer ChoirTrailer ChoirTrailer Choir is an American country music duo composed of vocalists Vinny Hickerson and Marc Fortney, known by their respective stage names Big Vinny and Butter. The group began as trio with Crystal Hoyt and was signed to Show Dog Nashville, a label owned by Toby Keith, in 2006...