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Feature Article
February 2007    
 
NMG Magazine
Launches
Country Music Label
By Dan Wakely
All  rights reserved
Copyright 2007
 
        On one night back in l995, Brad Fischer and Dan Wunsch were listening to a singer by the name of Billy Dee performing in Skull’s Rainbow Room in Printers Alley. During the break, Billy Dee told Dan Wunsch, “I’m busy down here making a living, and I ain’t got the time to kiss butt on Music Row to get a record deal. And no one in this town is giving any publicity to performers like me.” That’s when the light bulb went on in Dan Wunsch’s head, and he realized there was a need to have a FREE country magazine to write about the country performers trying to make it in Music City. The only free paper at the time was THE SCENE  and being an urban publication,  their articles were mostly about pop and rock acts. Dan Wunsch commented, “They say it takes 2 years for a new business to turn a profit. We  started making money with our second month. Where there is a need, and you’re the first one on the block to fill that need, the chances are high you will be  successful.” That was the birth of  Nashville Music Guide (NMG) Magazine,  and the free monthly magazine is currently in it’s 12th year of publication. The company’s success is reflected by the feature article entitled “Nashville Music Guide Influences In Musical Ways,” written by journalist Ron Wynn. The article appeared in the music business section of  the October 30th, 2006 issue of  THE CITY PAPER,  a daily Music City news publication.
      In 2006, Nashville Music Guide launched it’s record label, Nashville Music Guide Records . Dan Wunsch, editor of the magazine and now president of the label commented,    “In 12 years of covering the country music scene, the major complaint of country music fans is too many of the singers and songs on country radio sound the same.  There is a need today for more signature voices and signature musical styles on the country radio airwaves. My pledge to country music fans is we will not release a record on any artist that the listener will not be able to instantly recognize.”. Mr Wunsch may be on the right track, for that formula is what Country music was built on with artists like Hank Williams, George Jones, Emmy Lou Harris and Willie Nelson, and still is the cornerstone of long-term success today with the voices of   LeAnn Rimes, George Strait, Vince Gill, Alison Kraus and most recently Josh   Turner. His partner Brad Fischer echoes the same sentiment, “The murder on Music Row will be vindicated when listeners can experience the craftsmanship of writers of simple lyrics and catchy tunes performed by artists with distinctive vocals instead of cookie cutter clones.”
 
“RETRO-COUNTRY” Is Born
   
      There is No better artist NMG Records could have chosen for their first album project than David Frizzell. The 3 time Grammy nominee and ACM/CMA award winner  has already proven his longevity in the business with countless albums and a rigorous touring resume that spans over 25 year since his mega hits, “You’re the reason God Made Oklahoma” and “I’m Gonna Hire Me A Wino.”
      The record being released in Mid- February to country radio is  entitled “Water Makes Her Clothes Stay On”  and can best be described as RETRO-COUNTRY, a truly new unique sound that is the fusion of  contemporary country music with traditional country. WSM 95.5 FM Wolf DJ Su-Anna commented after listening to a pre-release of the tune, “This song brings a smile to my face and is a breath of fresh air from all the sound-alike cry in your beer songs. It is a new, refreshing and fun record that country music fans will enjoy.” 
      The song will also create  a buzz with radio DJ’s and listeners because it resurrects the tradition of country come-back songs. The most famous one was Kitty Wells’ rendition of  “It Wasn’t God That Made Honky Tonk Angels”, the answer song to Hank Thompson’s “The Wild Side of Life”. The Water song is the answer to Joe Nichol’s smash hit “Tequila Makes Her Clothes Fall Off.” However, unlike the Tequila song, “The song has a very moralistic message,” commented recording artist and ex-DJ Larry Joe Cashen, “finally a song where the girl says no to sex after drinking all night.” Dan Wunsch’s response to this is, “Well that’s true, but I wouldn’t be looking for this song to be played during a Sunday church service.”
 
The Mean and Lean All-star Record Team
     
       To promote this record, NMG has hired an all star team of  freelancers: Tom McBee and Associates for radio promotions, Independent PR consultant Summer Harman, radio promoter Mike Kelly and attorney Rodney Phelps. This  cast of talented individuals have played major roles in launching the careers of  Ray Charles, Garth Brooks, Jason Aldean, Keith Whitley, Charlie Pride to mention just a few. Rodney Phelps is not only an experienced entertainment attorney, who has represented major artists, but he also has argued a case in front of the US Supreme Court and was the agent for the late Howard Cossell.
 
The Marketing Plan
 
      There is a 3 prong marketing plan on getting the songs into the hands of radio music directors, program directors and  DJ’s. The first promotions blitz will occur on Feb. 19th when the song is mailed to over 2000 radio stations on CDX volume #416. The song will also be in the registration bag of every person who attends the 37th Annual Country Radio Seminar from Feb 28th thru March 2nd. The single will also be mailed to specific Billboard and Music Row chart tracking stations after the CRS convention.
 
The Video Company Born Out of Ashes
 
      Originally the video was to be filmed in March of last year. NMG contracted a company to do the video, but 5 days before the shoot, the production company backed out.  This has turned out to be a blessing in disguise. Dan Wunsch asserted, “My ambition has always been to do independent films. This gave me the time to rethink paying out $20,000 to do a high end film video. With the music contacts we have thru the magazine and the seed money from an anonymous donor, we have been able to build a film production company of our own. In fact, Brad Fischer, my partner, was a natural to be creative director for the new company since he is an internationally acclaimed writer, producer and director of commercials and music videos.”    
      The video of “Water Makes Her Clothes Stay On” will have it’s own signature style. Best way to describe the video script is “Mel Brookish”, comedic from start to finish. The stars of the video are David Frizzell as the singing troubadour while Kimberley Dahme is the water girl. Ms. Dahme is currently recording a new solo album and preparing to go on a multi-city tour as a band member of the rock group Boston. The other  “Hee Haw” type characters are Patriotic Patty, singer / songwriter Denise Benson, who flashes her top to reveal her red, white and  blue bra. Recording artist and ex-DJ Larry Joe Cashen is Jugger, who loves his jug and cradles it like his baby. Ironically, Larry Joe also has a song entitled “Jesse James” that will be released on the same volune of CDX, #416, as the “Water” record. Another coincidence is that Larry Joe has collaborated with David’s brother, Allen Frizzell in penning several songs. Natalie Wayne is Dollar Bill Jill. She is the daughter of  music pioneer singer / songwriter / musician David Holcroft. The Hogman is played by Jerry Ingram, who has recorded over 100 comedic songs and performs regularly in Nashville clubs. Casting is still open for the character of Gay Freddie, and for legal reasons the character of Casanova Cowboy cannot be disclosed at this time.
 
Timing Is Everything
 
     They say “Timing is everything”  in the music business. NMG records is entering a highly competitive industry, that usually requires millions of dollars to be successful at. The record label plans to make up in creativity what it lacks in finances, and the time is right for the independents right now. Will the label be successful ? Dan Wunsch said it the best, “The big advantage is we won’t have suits deciding what artists to sign and what songs to release. We can place creativity before marketing and hopefully that will result in  great music being recorded by our company. Country music is going thru a transition right now, and we hope to influence the way the wind will blow in a positive, ‘It’s About The Music’ direction.”
 
www.kdsongs.com  for Kimberly Dahm
www.NashvilleMuiscGuide.com
www.DavidFrizzell.com
Www.GunsofDixieMusic.com for Larry Joe Cashen
 

 
Photo by Gordy Collins in Sound Wave Studio after
Recording “Water Makes Her Clothes Stay On”,
l-r Dan Wunsch, Joe Frizzell and David Frizzell. 
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