Universal Closes DreamWorks Nashville As Toby Keith Leaves To Form Own Label

According to Billboard.com, "On the heels of losing its only superstar (Toby Keith), DreamWorks Records Nashville is being shuttered by its parent company, Universal Music Group. . With the shutdown, most of the DreamWorks staff and artists will be absorbed into sister labels MCA Nashville, Mercury and Lost Highway Records.With the exception of a dedicated promotion team, most of the DreamWorks staff already had additional duties at the sister labels ever since DreamWorks merged with Universal Music Group Nashville."

And according to the AP "…Toby Keith said Wednesday he’s forming his own label, Show Dog Nashville Records, to gain more control over his work…He’s betting he can sell his music at least as well as others have in racking up sales of more than 25 million albums, with 10 going platinum, and 21 No. 1 singles…"

Artist controlled labels is a trend we think we’ll see more of; particularly as traditional labels falter and the need for physical distribution fades.