Black River Music Group
Encyclopedia
Black River Music Group is an independent record label in Nashville, Tennessee, specializing in country music.
. Black River’s first signing was former RCA
recording artist, Jeff Bates, who previously reached Billboard
top 40 status with three of his songs, “The Love Song,” “I Wanna Make You Cry,” and “Long Slow Kisses.” Shortly after Bates’ signed with Black River, label president, Jimmy Nichols (along with Kenny Beard and Mickey Jack Cones) produced Jeff Bates’ self-titled album that was released in April 2008.
During preparation for Bates’ release, Black River began their search for their next potential artist. Singer/songwriter, Sarah Darling
, was discovered via her MySpace music page. Darling previously made her name known to the public when she was a finalist on E! Entertainment Television's reality show The Entertainer, hosted by Wayne Newton
. The label signed Darling and moved into the studio in the summer of 2008 to record her debut album, Every Monday Morning
(released on June 16, 2009). Her single, “Jack of Hearts” successfully made its debut on CMT
's top 20 countdown.
After much success with two artists, they signed their third, Emma Jacob, in February 2009. Nichols produced her album, along with her manager, Lex Lipsitz, who also manages Kate and Kacey. Emma’s single, “Julianna,” has been an inspiration to teenage girls all across America. Black River does the majority of their recording in the historic studio, "Ronnie's Place," which is located in their building in Nashville. It was previously owned by country music legend, Ronnie Milsap
.
Black River signed its biggest name to date in April 2011, when veteran singer Craig Morgan signed with the label. Morgan, who has compiled fifteen top-40 singles on the country charts over the course of his career, had previously been with BNA Records
, Broken Bow Records
and Atlantic Records
prior to joining Black River.
Background
Black River Music Group started in early 2007 by Nashville session player, Jimmy Nichols (James Ginnetti), Tonya Cochran Ginnetti, and billionaires Terry and Kim PegulaTerrence Pegula
Terrence M. "Terry" Pegula is an American businessman. Pegula founded East Resources, a natural gas drilling company, before selling the company to Royal Dutch Shell for approximately $4.7 billion....
. Black River’s first signing was former RCA
RCA
RCA Corporation, founded as the Radio Corporation of America, was an American electronics company in existence from 1919 to 1986. The RCA trademark is currently owned by the French conglomerate Technicolor SA through RCA Trademark Management S.A., a company owned by Technicolor...
recording artist, Jeff Bates, who previously reached Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
top 40 status with three of his songs, “The Love Song,” “I Wanna Make You Cry,” and “Long Slow Kisses.” Shortly after Bates’ signed with Black River, label president, Jimmy Nichols (along with Kenny Beard and Mickey Jack Cones) produced Jeff Bates’ self-titled album that was released in April 2008.
During preparation for Bates’ release, Black River began their search for their next potential artist. Singer/songwriter, Sarah Darling
Sarah Darling
Sarah Darling is an Amercian country music singer and songwriter.Darling was discovered via her MySpace music page where producer Jimmy Nichols heard one of her songs, "Stop the Bleeding", and signed her to his label, Black River Music Group...
, was discovered via her MySpace music page. Darling previously made her name known to the public when she was a finalist on E! Entertainment Television's reality show The Entertainer, hosted by Wayne Newton
Wayne Newton
Wayne Newton is an American singer and entertainer based in Las Vegas, Nevada. He performed over 30,000 solo shows in Las Vegas over a period of over 40 years, earning him the nicknames The Midnight Idol, Mr. Las Vegas and Mr. Entertainment...
. The label signed Darling and moved into the studio in the summer of 2008 to record her debut album, Every Monday Morning
Every Monday Morning
-Personnel:*Kevin Beamish – mixing*Shaunna Bolton – background vocals*Pat Buchanan – electric guitar*Tom Bukovac – electric guitar*Eric Darken – percussion*Jeff Dayton – acoustic guitar, electric guitar*Rick Ferrell – background vocals*Shawn Fichter – drums...
(released on June 16, 2009). Her single, “Jack of Hearts” successfully made its debut on CMT
CMT
- Medicine :* California mastitis test* Certified Massage Therapist* Cervical motion tenderness, a sign of pelvic inflammatory disease* Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease* Chemically modified tetracyclines* Circus Movement Tachycardia...
's top 20 countdown.
After much success with two artists, they signed their third, Emma Jacob, in February 2009. Nichols produced her album, along with her manager, Lex Lipsitz, who also manages Kate and Kacey. Emma’s single, “Julianna,” has been an inspiration to teenage girls all across America. Black River does the majority of their recording in the historic studio, "Ronnie's Place," which is located in their building in Nashville. It was previously owned by country music legend, Ronnie Milsap
Ronnie Milsap
Ronnie Lee Milsap is an American country music singer and pianist. He was one of country’s most popular and influential performers of the 1970s and 1980s...
.
Black River signed its biggest name to date in April 2011, when veteran singer Craig Morgan signed with the label. Morgan, who has compiled fifteen top-40 singles on the country charts over the course of his career, had previously been with BNA Records
BNA Records
BNA Records, formerly known as BNA Entertainment, is a label group that shares ties with Arista Nashville and RCA Nashville from parent company Sony Music Nashville, which itself is a subsidiary of Sony Music Entertainment. Based in Nashville, Tennessee, BNA features country music acts on its roster...
, Broken Bow Records
Broken Bow Records
Broken Bow Records is an American independent record label based in Nashville, Tennessee. Founded in July of 1999 by Benny Brown, the label specializes in country music The label's general manager is Jon Loba....
and Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records is an American record label best known for its many recordings of rhythm and blues, rock and roll, and jazz...
prior to joining Black River.
Artists
- Jeff BatesJeff BatesJeffery Wayne "Jeff" Bates is an American country music artist. Signed to RCA Records in 2003, Bates released his debut album Rainbow Man that year. A second album, Leave the Light On, was released in 2005 on RCA. He left RCA in 2006. This album was followed by Jeff Bates in 2008 on the...
- Sarah DarlingSarah DarlingSarah Darling is an Amercian country music singer and songwriter.Darling was discovered via her MySpace music page where producer Jimmy Nichols heard one of her songs, "Stop the Bleeding", and signed her to his label, Black River Music Group...
- Due WestDue WestDue West is an American country music group composed of Matt Lopez, Tim Gates and Brad Hull. Due West was founded in Nashville, Tennessee in 2004, and was almost signed to a contract with RCA Records Nashville in 2006, but lost the deal due to the merger of Sony Music and BMG...
- Craig MorganCraig MorganCraig Morgan Greer is an American country music artist. A veteran of the United States Army, Morgan began his musical career in 2000 on Atlantic Records, releasing his self-titled debut album for that label before the closure of its Nashville division in 2000...
- Glen TempletonGlen TempletonGlen Templeton is an American country music singer-songwriter. Templeton was originally signed to Capstone Records, who released his debut single, "I Could Be the One", on April 19, 2011, however, in July 2011, he signed to Black River Music Group....
Staff
- Rick Baumgartner- Vice President / General Manager
- Celia Froehlig- Vise President/ Director of Publishing
- Joe Carroll- National Director
- Jim Dorman- National Director of Promotion
- John Gusty- Online Marketing
- Kevin Monroe- Studio Manager