David Nail Has Parted Ways with MCA Nashville / Universal
Country artist David Nail has parted ways from MCA Nashville / Universal after a tumultuous period where his music was stuck in seemingly endless delays, and his last few singles stalled in the charts. Though neither Universal, nor David Nail have publicly acknowledged the parting of ways, the Missouri native is no longer listed on any of Universal’s web properties, his last single “Good At Tonight” with Brothers Osborne is no longer receiving promotion from the company, and the split has been confirmed by officials inside Universal. Nail had been with MCA Nashville for nearly 10 years, and the split appears to have happened at some time in mid February.
David Nail signed to his first major label, Mercury Records Nashville, in 2002. He moved over to MCA Nashville in April 2007 where he would earn two #1 hits—2011’s “Let It Rain” and 2013’s “Whatever She’s Got,” along with a Top 10 hit in 2009’s “Red Light.” Often writing many of his own songs, David Nail earned critical acclaim while still finding strong commercial performance, and was seen by some as a way forward for mainstream country music in the post Bro-Country era.
In late 2015 / early 2016, Nail became one of many MCA Nashville-signed artists mired in endless delays for new music by the company, while the lead single “Night’s On Fire” from his latest album Fighter stalled just outside the Top 10 on the Country Airplay charts. Eventually Fighter was released on July 15th, 2016, but the second single from the album, “Good At Tonight,” didn’t even crack the Top 50 before MCA Nashville pulled its promotion.
No word on what David Nail’s plans are for the future at the moment. On Dec 12, 2015, his wife gave birth to twin boys—something Nail sang about specifically in his song “Babies” on Fighter. It was songs like “Babies,” and his solo-written “I Won’t Let You Go” featuring Vince Gill that gave many David Nail fans chills, and gave mainstream country fans hope for the future of the format.
March 6, 2017 @ 11:21 am
This guy is a natural-born writer.
March 6, 2017 @ 11:26 am
This is the problem I have with labels, why would artists like Chase Rice and Chase Bryant still have contracts when they are clearly not connecting with people but they have issues when people who already have a track record do not deliver??? The struggle is real…
March 6, 2017 @ 12:54 pm
Last few times I heard him, he actually wasn’t bad but he didn’t pique my interest enough to make an investment, not like Jack Ingram did. I imagine he might go the indie route and just stick to his guns.
March 6, 2017 @ 1:10 pm
Here’s to hoping his next release is through Thirty Tigers.
I firmly believe the abundance of longer, more substantial tracks (Home, I Won’t Let You Go, Fighter, Babies, Old Man’s Symphony) was an indication that Nail knew this was his last hurrah on a major label.
March 6, 2017 @ 1:17 pm
Interesting theory. I think this is what Kellie Pickler did with “100 Proof.” If you know you’re going to get dropped anyway, might as well make the record you want to.
March 6, 2017 @ 1:22 pm
Yes, or at least he knew the risk (of losing his label) and was willing to take it. “Night’s On Fire” was the only blatantly radio-oriented track on the recent album, and it didn’t do well-enough for his corporate bosses. I’m sure it was a big disappointed for him to be dismissed, but surely he was not surprised. He has a loyal and fairly sizable following, so he’ll be fine as an independent artist.
March 6, 2017 @ 5:02 pm
I didn’t understand “Good at Tonight” as the second single. I had heard it would be “Got Me Gone” and I think that song would have done very well, comparatively.
March 6, 2017 @ 6:04 pm
Perhaps you’re right that “Got Me Gone” would have done better. But “Good at Tonight” is more catchy and uptempo, and it featured Brothers Osborne who were enjoying surprising success. including the CMA Award for Vocal Duo of the Year.
March 6, 2017 @ 1:15 pm
Nail has one of the best voices in country music. I don’t always agree with his choice of singles, but all of his albums have solid material and he should be a superstar at this point. Maybe a label that knows what to do with him will pick him up. He deserves another shot IMO.
March 6, 2017 @ 1:55 pm
I wonder where he’s published at, I’m sure I can google to look and see. With so many publishing houses getting into the A/R game, I wonder if his publishing company will either release an album “independently” with a radio promo team, or if it’s a major publisher like Sony/Warner Chappel/Universal if he’d sign with that record company as well. Either way, I’m hoping this means more Nail material, I’ve always loved his writing and artistry.
March 6, 2017 @ 3:17 pm
David’s got a publishing deal with Carnival. I talked with his manager about a week and half ago and he said we’ll be hearing more music from David. He couldn’t say much more than that, but he insinuated that some things might be in the works already.
March 6, 2017 @ 3:19 pm
This makes me so sad! Hopefully he can find a new label soon!
March 7, 2017 @ 1:09 am
As a David Nail fan, I saw this coming. He has been one of the most largely ignored country artists by not only radio but by the media, even though he’s by far way more talented than the vast majority of the pop country fools that get massive amounts of airplay on “country” radio. Hopefully some other major label scoops him up, I was looking forward to Got Me Gone being released as a single but it will never happen now.
March 7, 2017 @ 2:41 am
For my money , David Nail is a solo version of Lady Antebellum . Albums filled with characterless songs , forgettable melodies , unfocused arrangements and an overall unremarkable voice . Like Antebellum’s stuff. No passion in the deliveries and no narratives or lyrics worth getting passionate about….at least not the singles . No identity in their respective sound . I’ll concede that his voice is better than the Rhetts and the Sheltons and the Bentleys….but that really isn’t conceding much . There’s no Randy Travis ,no Buck Owens ,no Holly Williams or any really unique vocal stylists in mainstream , out side of Stapleton and perhaps Josh Turner…. whenever he surfaces again .
I won’t miss David Nail’s songs at all . The singles were pretty crappy .
March 7, 2017 @ 10:34 am
So glad to hear you say this. I remember being singularly unimpressed with his first album. Never paid any attention to him after that and was a bit surprised to hear all this love coming his way in these comments.
March 8, 2017 @ 12:57 pm
Bummed to hear this, I’m not a HUGE fan, but I came across him on myspace years and years ago, when myspace was actually a THING. I remember loving his song “Why” and following his career. I was so excited when he started having a little success! Hope for more good things for him.
March 22, 2017 @ 9:10 am
Good, maybe he’ll stay away from Panama City Beach and anywhere Spring Break, young people, fun lovers, or anything exciting could be… This boring loser (but good songwriter & voice) belongs playing live at the old folks homes or in the mountains somewhere. I’d love to see him live again, but not in a beach/fun atmosphere. Maybe he can get a deal with Timetogobacktotherockingchair, Inc. Good Luck DN.