Allen Butler to Launch New Record Label and Publishing Company Montage Music Nashville

        Nashville, TN –   Allen Butler, industry veteran and former Sony President and CEO has been tapped to head and oversee the launch of a new record label, Montage Music Nashville.

Montage Music Nashville is a wholly-owned venture of entrepreneur John Simmons of Hedgewood International, LLC.  Simmons established and, until recently, managed his law firm, SimmonsCooper, LLC, which employs more than 300 hundred people.  Through Hedgewood, Simmons also owns various other successful enterprises, including a steel mill and two minor league baseball teams. 

“We are very aware of the commitment necessary to launch a successful entertainment company – in terms of its management and financing. Our first order of business is to hire the best in the business to be at the helm of Montage Music and we know we have that in Allen Butler,” said John Simmons, CEO of Montage parent company Hedgewood International. “Allen has our full support and backing.”

“We have two goals at Hedgewood International – make sound investments in endeavors that keep people working and to have fun along the way. With this announcement, I think we’re well on our way to achieving both,” added Simmons.

Butler first started his career in the music industry at RCA in 1978 where he was Director of Sales & Promotions and helped develop the careers of Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, Alabama and The Judds, among others.  In 1989 he was hired at the (then) newly established Arista/Nashville label as Vice President of Promotion and Artist Development, where he was instrumental in jumpstarting the careers of Alan Jackson, Brooks & Dunn, Pam Tillis, Diamond Rio and others who were generally unknown artists before signing to the label.  The Arista/Nashville Radio Promotion department was second to none under the tutelage of Butler.  After his tenure at Arista, he was named President of Sony Records Nashville where he signed the Dixie Chicks and made country music history with this mega-platinum act.   He also directed the careers of other star talents such at Montgomery Gentry, Travis Tritt and Patty Loveless.

Montage Music Nashville is currently building a staff for its multi-genre record label, publishing and management entity and is seeking appropriate office space just off Music Row.  Announcements on staff positions and distribution are forthcoming.