Alan Jackson Leaves Arista Nashville Label After 22 Years
Alan Jackson announced on Thursday (January 20) he has left his longtime record label, Arista Nashville. The partnership between the quiet, laid-back boy from Georgia and the label began in 1989, and for the last 22 years, has brought both of them major success, including more than 50 million albums sold, a dozen platinum and multi-platinum albums, 35 chart-topping hits and more than 100 awards and honors. In fact, the country superstar was the very first artist signed to the label.
"I've had a great run with Arista, going all the way back to the beginning of my career when I signed with Tim DuBois," Alan says. "I've gotten to work with some real great people along the way and we accomplished a lot. It just seems to me like the time may be right to change things up a bit and see what comes next."
The parent company of his label, Sony Music Nashville, said in a statement that they wish "to thank Alan Jackson for their long association and the many hit records achieved as a result of that association" and that they wish him well in his future endeavors.
The three-time CMA Entertainer of the Year, who arrived on the scene in 1990 with 'Here in the Real World,' delivered his final album for Arista in November -- the career-spanning greatest hits collection, '34 Number Ones,' which features his 35th chart-topper, the collaboration with the Zac Brown Band, 'As She's Walking Away.'
Back in December, Alan was not entirely sure he would re-sign with Arista or with another label. "I'm not on anybody's label," Alan told CMT.com. "I'm not saying I won't be on their label. We just haven't really negotiated anything for the future -- and I haven't with anybody, to be honest with you. I don't know what's gonna happen. We're just kind of seeing what the options are out there."
While Alan ponders his next move, he is currently writing and working on songs for his upcoming album. Where it will find a home is the question which will hopefully be answered in the coming weeks. One possibility could be his own imprint, ACR (Alan's Country Records), which released the Wrights' debut album, 'Down This Road,' in 2005.
In the meantime, Alan is gearing up for the first leg of his 2011 tour with sold-out shows in Canada, the first of which is in Sudbury, Ontario, on February 1. He will follow the North of the border trek by his first tour of Australia. For more of Alan's tour dates, click here.
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