Phil Vassar Launches His Own Label

He's penned some of country music's biggest hits, including 'My Next Thirty Years' and 'For a Little While' by Tim McGraw and Alan Jackon's 'Right on the Money,' plus he's released six albums of his own on two major record labels, but Phil Vassar isn't satisfied leaving his career in other people's hands. So, the award-winning singer/songwriter has started his own company, in an attempt to take full control of his music.

Phil has launched Rodeowave Entertainment, a full-service company that includes a record label, management and promotional services. The first project the company will work is the Virginia native's next album -- a live CD/DVD project. After being dropped from both Arista Nashville and Universal South, Phil hopes his new venture will allow him to find success making his own style of music.

"Some guys are just so worried about being famous and being stars, they'll do anything the record label tells them to do. And (the labels) really don't have your best interests in mind," he tells Fox Cities Hub. "They have their own interests in mind, so you just have to be an artist. Do your thing ... I don't think the great artists wanted to be famous. I think they just wanted to make music and have fun. If people love that and become your fan because of it, that's great; not because you're the hottest thing on YouTube for 10 minutes. It's just so odd."

His upcoming project is a sharp deviation from where his mindset was less than a year ago. "I don't even know why we do albums anymore," Phil lamented to The Boot, after releasing his last CD, 'Traveling Circus.' "I don't think we will for much longer. I think it's going to go back to singles, the way it was when the Beatles came out -- maybe five or six songs each [album]. I think that's where we go from now on."

There's no release date yet for the new album and DVD, which will be filmed in Nashville. Phil isn't staying off the road while he gets his new venture off the ground. He has upcoming shows planned, including stops in New Jersey, New York and Maryland. See his tour schedule here.