Gary Allan Gets Free of Restrictive MCA Nashville Environment
Well well well. The plot thickens.
Fans of country artist Gary Allan and other curious onlookers have been wondering for quite some time just what in the hell is going on with Gary’s career. After releasing a fairly out-of-character and trend chasing single called “Hangover Tonight” over a year ago, it appears Gary’s career has been in perpetual limbo. “Hangover Tonight” flopped for all intents and purposes, stalling outside of the Top 40 on the country airplay charts—something you don’t want your lead single to do these days in mainstream country music.
Since the single stalled, there’s been no news on when a new single might be released, or when a new album might hit shelves, despite word from Gary and others that a new albums was expected as early as last summer. As Saving Country Music spelled out in the article MCA Nashville Replacing Curb Records As The Scourge of Music Row, Gary Allan is just one of many artists on MCA Nashville that appears to have their careers of hold after lackluster single releases. Other artists in MCA’s perpetual holding pattern include Josh Turner and David Nail.
Well now there’s some news, though it’s of a convoluted variety. On Wednesday (3-31), it was announced that Gary Allan had “re-signed” with Universal Music Group Nashville—the parent company of MCA Nashville. The press release spoke about how Gary had been with the label for the entirety of his 20-year career, which is true.
But one very important distinction in the press release is that Gary Allan is no longer being promoted by MCA Nashville, but another Universal Music Group subsidiary—EMI Nashville, which is the home of Eric Church, Alan Jackson, Brothers Osborne, and Eric Paslay. “Allan will now be represented by the EMI promotion staff as part of the re-signing,” the press release says, slyly announcing that ostensibly Gary Allan has switched labels.
“Gary is simply one of the most interesting vocalists and stylists that country music has ever known,” UMG Nashville Chairman & CEO Mike Dungan said. “He is truly a unique artist, and we are honored and thrilled to be able to continue to represent him.”
Also interesting, the press release says, “His most recent album, 2013’s ‘Set You Free’, features the No. 1 single ‘Every Storm (Runs Out Of Rain),’ which he co-wrote with Matt Warren and Hillary Lindsey,” making no mention of Gary’s single “Hangover Tonight” whatsoever.
What this means is the possibility of getting new music from Gary in single or album form just became greater. Also, if recent history holds form, there’s at least the potential that Gary Allan will also have more creative flexibility considering the flexibility bestowed to artists like Eric Church and Alan Jackson from EMI.
This new deal for Gary Allan also may factor into the situation Josh Turner, David Nail, and Claire Dunn find themselves in with MCA Nashville. Or it may not. But for Gary Allan, it appears he’s finally free of one of the most restrictive labels in country music at the moment.
March 31, 2016 @ 10:01 am
Great news! I’m willing to overlook “Hangover Tonight” as a small misstep. He’s built a career and loyal fanbase by recording albums his own damn way. I think we’ll see the old Gary Allan with his next album.
April 4, 2016 @ 8:47 am
Garry Allan has consistently done good albums. I consider Tough All Over, the album he put out after his wife’s suicide, to be one of the best albums in Country music history. I loved how he took the pain and grief he was obviously going through and channeled it into an album that spoke so much truth about the way life truly works. It may not be an easy album to listen to but it is well worth the effort.
March 31, 2016 @ 10:15 am
Now if he could just get free of those shitty tattoos
March 31, 2016 @ 10:31 am
Think Universal Music might be doing an internal corporate restructuring at some point?
March 31, 2016 @ 10:47 am
I hope his new album won’t include ”hangover” and anything like that. He deserves more respect from these ”music executives” who forced him record this.
March 31, 2016 @ 11:58 am
From what Gary has said, he has an entire album in the can. If that album ever sees the light of day remains to be seen. My guess is it won’t. Why would the same label re-sign someone BEFORE releasing an album that’s been on the shelf for nine months? My guess would be “Hangover Tonight” will not be on the next album, but we’ll see.
March 31, 2016 @ 10:50 am
Thank you for explaining what I’m trying to tell a friend of mine. Good riddance to MCA Nashville, and can us fans please finally, SOON, have that new music we’ve been waiting for well over a year and a half for? I knew from his concerts that Gary had great music waiting to be released if his label would just have gotten off their duff and quit jerking him and his fans around by trying to make him sound like the young shite.
March 31, 2016 @ 11:00 am
Thank God. Love Gary Allan. Let’s get on board with the label and just pretend Hangover Tonight never happened.
March 31, 2016 @ 11:41 am
As badly written a song as Hangover Tonight was , if it had been recorded by one of the new , hot young males targeting the kids it likely would have been a hit . The inescapable fact with ALL pop singers ( and that includes country/pop ) is that 99.9% of them have an expiry date commercially . The best thing guys like AJ , Vince, Gene Watson , and Gary Allan can do is to ‘ dance with the one that brought them ‘ ….keep doing what we know them for and keep respecting the fan base that GAVE them careers in the first place . Gary Allan forgot this . Vince’s new record is far from contemporary country and so it should be . But it IS indisputably “Vince” …..no trend-chasing …no bed-head hair in the promos ….no backward hats or chains . Gene Watson ,arguably the best male vocalist in country music – ever ! with nothing to prove in that department , does what only he can do and he does it with pride , integrity and authenticity . Gary Allan has staked a nice piece of territory in the kingdom of Country which he should be building on come what may , not tearing down and turning his back on . Every time an artist chases trends they gamble integrity and they gamble with their heretofore loyal fans . I think a lot of artists are so dependent on the labels to do their thinking for them that they forget that they actually CAN think . Desperation , second-guessing and yes rent payments creep into the mindset and out goes passion and dedication , creativity and heart . When the expiry date is nigh, an otherwise successful artist might want to look at that as an opportunity to embrace , again , the things that brought them that success and understand the value and rewards to doing it YOUR way …..Vince’s THESE DAYS album , AJ’s bluegrass album , Stapleton’s approach . Arguably all of these guys are past expiry date ..BUT the product has integrity and honesty and THAT is what will keep them in the game and find that loyal fan base. Maybe Gary Allan needs a label that lets HIM have the reigns and explore his limits rather than cow-tow to commercial country radio’s lack of respect for the genre .
March 31, 2016 @ 12:02 pm
The big question I still have is whose decision was “Hangover Tonight”? Was it Gary Allan’s? Was it the label’s? Was it the label’s, and Gary went along because he didn’t want war? And after it bombed said, “I told you so”? Something had to stimulate Gary switching labels. These things just don’t happen like this, especially in the middle of an album cycle.
March 31, 2016 @ 1:04 pm
I also have a hard time believing that “Hangover Tonight” was Allan’s baby, especially in light of previous comments from him lamenting country’s move to that kind of song.
He’s far from being a hard-core traditionalist, but to my ears he’s one of the most tolerable mainstream country acts to emerge in the last 20 years or so.
March 31, 2016 @ 5:27 pm
Gary didn’t want Hangover Tonight to be the first release. Label trumps artist.
March 31, 2016 @ 12:04 pm
Am I the only one who thinks that Gary Allan’s music has sucked for a long time now — long before “Hangover Tonight”? I hated “Get Off On The Pain” and “Set You Free”. I’m not sure things are going to improve that much with the imprint change.
March 31, 2016 @ 12:57 pm
I wouldn’t say “sucked”, but yeah after “Tough All Over” his material has taken a slide/step back. I will say that while “Set You Free” did not have very good singles attached to it, it did mark what looked like a rejuvenation in Gary Allan cutting good material. A lot of album cuts on that record are damn good and in any other era, “It Ain’t The Whiskey” would have been a top 10 hit and gotten some love for song of the year at mainstream award shows.
March 31, 2016 @ 5:22 pm
“Set You Free” was more of a mixed bag to my ears, but I genuinely enjoyed “Get Off On The Pain” aside from “Tonight (not a bad song, just a boring and predictable obligatory kind of ballad).
“No Regrets” is one of the single most devastatingly heartfelt tracks I’ve heard among any of his albums to date, and “Kiss Me When I”™m Down” and “Along the Way” are not far behind. But as a whole, it was a cohesive record that is replete with emotional nuance in how he showcases all these conflicted states of mind.
March 31, 2016 @ 5:25 pm
Yes you are the only one who thinks that.
April 1, 2016 @ 4:27 pm
Maybe not the only one but I have liked all his releases to date. His last effort was his weakest imo, but I loved get off on the pain, great set of songs. Certainly more modern rock and less country than his earlier releases, but I like both genres, so I am not complaining.
March 31, 2016 @ 12:09 pm
It would be fascinating to know the behind the scenes details of this switch. Clearly, things weren’t working for Gary at MCA, so we can obviously guess. Hopefully, this will be a positive for his career going forward. I hope the other artists can get their issues with the label resolved.
March 31, 2016 @ 12:18 pm
This is interesting. Angels and Alcohol from Jackson and Mr. Misunderstood from Church are both terrific albums. If Gary gets that kind of leway then we are truly in for a treat. What scared me though is the “already in the can” aspect to his new album, i hope some re editing is in the future cause if not it may blow big time! Man i miss the Smoke Rings in the Dark days, radio needs that raspy voice on it again dangit!
March 31, 2016 @ 12:32 pm
Man oh man, I’m very happy to hear this. 🙂 I’m a HUGE Gary Allan fan and I’m really hoping to hear new music from him. Smoke Rings in the Dark will always be one of my favorite songs.
March 31, 2016 @ 12:53 pm
EMI now has a mainstream trio of Eric Church, Brothers Osborne, and Gary Allan. I’m liking the whole rock/country thing they’ve now built, along with Alan Jackson as a veteran performer. EMI seems to have a powerhouse group of performers in the making. Good times seem to be ahead.
March 31, 2016 @ 1:53 pm
That’s great news he is no longer on Curb 2 records (MCA Nashville) anymore!
March 31, 2016 @ 2:00 pm
Fantastic news! As a Gary Allan fan, this makes me very happy to hear. If we get another album even close to the levels of “Smoke Rings” or “Tough All Over” then I’ll be a happy camper. Now if we could only get the same news for Josh Turner…….
March 31, 2016 @ 3:01 pm
Very awesome news to hear that Gary has a new record label and I can’t wait to hear his new album. Love everyone of his albums and I love him. I love his song Hangover Tonight that is awesome song and Highest I Ever Been I heard him singing at his shows and fan club party last year that was awesome too. I really didn’t care for his Hangover Tonight video. I love this man and his beautiful, gorgeous and raspy voice. Gary is a very unique singer/songwriter.
March 31, 2016 @ 3:11 pm
Very AWESOME to hear that Gary has a new record label and I can’t wait to hear his new album soon. I love everyone of his albums and I love him. I love his song Hangover Tonight that is awesome song and Highest I Ever Been that I heard him singing few times at his shows and Fan Club Party last year that is awesome song as well. I really didn’t care for his Hangover Tonight video. I love this man and his beautiful, gorgeous and raspy voice. Gary is a very unique singer/songwriter and as well very unique person and I can’t wait to see him again in person. I am really happy for him having a new record label.
March 31, 2016 @ 3:48 pm
I love that song HANGOVER TONIGHT “.. It has a soul sound and takes you back to the days of Elvis, Buddy Holly, Frank Santra…To me it allows the sound and Classic Style to Live on in Country music and Historical moments to be refreshed and still heard by the next generation of music listeners..aLittle Ol’ Rock n Roll..
March 31, 2016 @ 5:15 pm
That’s encouraging news!
Yeah, “Hangover Tonight” was such a misguided stumble for him, but I’m obviously willing to forgive him for that slight if his next decision is a genuine acknowledgement of what won over many to his music in the first place: sincerity, emotional richness and a distinctive voice that is equal parts gritty and comforting.
I’m quite optimistic Gary Allan will do so.
March 31, 2016 @ 6:49 pm
If anybody thinks that the version of “Hangover” that hit radio was the way the song originally sounded before the label had their input you have no idea. There were plenty of options for great second single that sound like “Gary Allan” and we didn’t get to hear any of those on the radio because that’s not what MCA wanted. Just like when they didn’t support “It Ain’t the Whiskey” when it was the fan vote for a single. That song should have been a number one and could have if it would have had label support. MCA has done it’s best to try and put everybody in the same box and Gary doesn’t fit there. Seems like EMI will be a much better fit with Eric Church over there.
March 31, 2016 @ 9:41 pm
Man, the announcement that Gary Allan is “re-signing with Universal Music Group” is so disingenuous… ha ha. I saw an article elsewhere on the internet with almost that exact headline, and I would have completely glossed over what was actually going on if not for SCM setting things straight.
Why not just be straight forward? The news that Gary is, in fact, switching labels has been greeted with nothing but enthusiasm from his fans here. I don’t see the point of trying to bury the news behind misleading headlines.
March 31, 2016 @ 9:58 pm
I Love Gary Allan’s music and Hang Over Tonight was one of my favorite. I love see Gary letting go and enjoying himself. He could sing Harper Valley P.T.A. and I would enjoy it. LOL. JK. But I am a big fan of Gary’s and I am ready for some new music from him, but I will still listen to the old ones also.
April 1, 2016 @ 9:09 am
My two favorite songs from Gary Allan are Right Where I Need To Be and Man of Me. I’ll overlook Hangover Tonight and pretend it never happened. I always loved his voice and, of course, his good looks. I am one, too, that can’t wait for some new music from him.
April 1, 2016 @ 10:30 am
I’m right there with ya, Tiffany! He has an amazing voice and is sexy as hell. Right Where I Need to Be is amazing, and Man of Me is sorely underrated. I’m really excited for this. 🙂
April 1, 2016 @ 9:28 am
I would be all over a Eric Church/Gary Allan tour. Make it happen.
April 1, 2016 @ 3:12 pm
Fuck curb
April 2, 2016 @ 3:42 pm
Thank god! “Learning how to bend” will always be one of my favorites. Love his voice, hope to hear it more on the radio if radio ever gets a clue.