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About Shane

Originally from Cincinnati, Ohio, Shane Barrett moved to Nashville in 1985. After graduating from Hillsboro High School, he attended Belmont University and graduated with a Music Business degree in 1991. Barrett played guitar and sang background vocals with several touring acts after college, including Lacy J. Dalton.

 

In 1994, Barrett joined MCA Records Nashville, starting in the mailroom, and moving up to the A&R Dept. in 1996. He then worked as A&R Manager for famed producer and MCA president Tony Brown and eventually signed two acts to the label, Shannon Lawson and Jessi Alexander.  

 

Shane Barrett left MCA in late 2002 to start his own company, Shane Barrett Songs, LLC. He served as independent songplugger and music consultant to TAXI and a handful of music publishing companies in the Nashville market.

 

From January 2006 until May 2010, Barrett worked as Nashville Creative Director for Canadian-based publishing company, ole Songs, Inc.

 

In July 2010, Barrett formed Shane Barrett Music, LLC, which includes independent songplugging for various clients, music consulting services, and producing of independent artists. Shane Barrett currently resides in Nashville, TN with his wife, Melissa Solomon Barrett, who also assists in pitching and securing cuts for clients of Shane Barrett Music, LLC.

Awards/Honors

 

  • Included in Music Row Magazine’s “In Charge: Nashville’s Music Industry Decision Makers” Issues, 2012-Current.

  • Featured in “RowFile” section of June/July 2011 issue of Music Row Magazine; 2 page article.

  • Featured in the July 2002 issue of Recording Magazine/TAXI “A & R Insider” series.

  • Presented with MCA Records Nashville’s “Bright Idea Award” in 1995, for creating “Music-Commitment-Artistry”, which was used as MCA’s “Label Of The Decade” branding slogan.

  • Presented with Innovation Award in Fall, 2008 by ole’ Songs, Inc.

Awards/Honors

  • Included in Music Row Magazine’s “In Charge: Nashville’s Music Industry Decision Makers” Issues, 2012-2020.

  • Featured in a 2021 interview by Nashville Voyager Magazine. Link to article: https://nashvillevoyager.com/interview/exploring-life-business-with-shane-barrett-of-shane-barrett-music-llc/

  • Featured in “RowFile” section of June/July 2011 issue of Music Row Magazine; 2 page article.

  • Featured in the July 2002 issue of Recording Magazine/TAXI “A & R Insider” series.

  • Presented with MCA Records Nashville’s “Bright Idea Award” in 1995, for creating “Music-Commitment-Artistry”, which was used as MCA’s “Label Of The Decade” branding slogan.

  • Presented with Innovation Award in Fall, 2008 by ole’ Songs, Inc.

While at MCA Records

 

  • Signed Jessi Alexander (with Mark Wright) in May of 2002.

  • Signed Shannon Lawson (with Tony Brown) in October of 2000.

  • A&R’d/Secured #1 hit singles on Gary Allan, “Tough Little Boys” and “Nothin’ On But The Radio.”

  • Secured A&R cuts on George Strait, Reba McEntire, Trisha Yearwood, Chely Wright, Rebecca Lynn Howard, Alecia Elliott, Sons of the Desert, Lee Ann Womack, and Gary Allan.

While at Ole' Songs, Inc.

 

  • Pitched/secured #1 hit single on the Eli Young Band, “Crazy Girl”, which was also AWARDED 2012 ACM SONG OF THE YEAR AND WAS NAMED BILLBOARD MAGAZINE’S #1 MOST PLAYED COUNTRY SONG OF 2011. Digital Single certified 4x Platinum for over FOUR MILLION paid downloads. 

  • Pitched/secured #1 hit single “Let Me Down Easy”, on Billy Currington’s Enjoy Yourself (2010). 

  • Pitched/secured 2012 single “So Called Life”, on Montgomery Gentry’s Rebels On the Run (2011). 

  • Pitched/secured hit single in Canada on High Valley, “I Will Stand By You”, which was named Canadian Country Single Of The Year during Canadian Country Music Week, March, 2011. 

  • Pitched/secured cuts on artists including: Martina McBride, Jason Aldean, Gretchen Wilson, Montgomery Gentry, Ronnie Milsap, Randy Travis/Josh Turner (duet), Kristy Lee Cook, High Valley, Emerson Drive, Doc Walker, and others.

While at Shane Barrett Songs, LLC. (2003-2006)

 

  • Pitched/secured top 10 hit single “Sunshine and Summertime”, on Faith Hill’s Fireflies (2005).

  • Pitched/secured top 15 hit single “I Can’t Unlove You”, on Kenny Rogers’ Water & Bridges (2006).

 

 

While at Shane Barrett Music, LLC. (2010-Present)

 

       Cuts secured by Shane Barrett Music, LLC, via pitch and/or co-write setup:

  • **NEW FOR 2024: “Miss Me”, on Runaway June’s Smoke, Wine & Whiskey EP (2024, Quartz Hill Records).

  • “In Case You Don’t Remember”, on Jason Aldean’s They Don’t Know (2016, Broken Bow Records).

  • “Too Damn Young”, on Luke Bryan’s Tailgates & Tanlines (2011, Universal Music Group). 4X Platinum album sales.

  • **NEW FOR 2023: “How The Hurtin’ Goes”, by Curtis Grimes, #1 hit Radio single on the Texas Regional Radio Report.

  • **NEW FOR 2023: Cut by Shenandoah (TBD, 2023, 8 Track Entertainment).

  • “How You Make A Man”, on Craig Morgan's God, Family, Country-Deluxe Edition (2022, BBR Music Group/BMG). U.S. Country Radio single in 2022.

  • “Workin’ On Whiskey”, on Trisha Yearwood’s Every Girl (2019 regular release & 2021 Deluxe edition, Gwendolyn/Pearl Records). Featuring Kelly Clarkson on BGVs.

  • “Cool Ya”, on Wynonna’s Wynonna & The Big Noise (2016, Curb Records).

  • “Dust & Bone”, “My Truck”, on Gretchen Wilson’s Right On Time (2013, Redneck Records).

  • “The Quiet”, on The Voice top 3 finalist Ian Flanigan’s Strong (2022, Reviver Entertainment Group).

  • “I Believe It” cut released by 2021 The Voice contestant Pete Mroz (2021).

  • “Only In My Mind”, on Craig Wayne Boyd’s Top Shelf (2017, CMG/Reviver).

  • “Boulder” on Krystal Keith’s Boulder EP (2018, Show Dog Records).

  • **3 cuts on Brett Young’s On Fire (2013-independent), including “Breathe Again”, a Shane Barrett co-write with Brett Young. Brett is now a multi-#1 hit artist on Big Machine.

  • “Like A Kid Again”, on Jo Dee Messina’s Me (2014).

  • “Pretty Beautiful”, on BMG/Chrysalis artist Danny Gokey’s Hope In Front Of Me (2014), which debuted at #1 on the Billboard CCM album chart.

  • “Different Kind Of Love”, on Casey James’ Strip It Down (2017).

  • “A Woman’s Touch” cut by Casey James for Sony Music (2013-Unreleased).

  • “College Years”, on Casey Donahew Band’s (w/Love And Theft), All Night Party (2016).

  • “What If You’re Wrong”, on Little River Band’s Cuts Like A Diamond (2013).

  • “Broke, Not Broken”, on the Loving Mary Band’s Little Bit Of Love (2016, producer/bandleader Marti Frederiksen).

  • “Expensive”, on Sammy Arriaga’s Meet In The Middle EP (2017, Sony/RCA/Latium Records).

  • **Cuts by American Idol former finalist Josh Gracin (TBD, 2021).

  • **Cuts by Jordan Rager, David Fanning (BBR Music Group-Unreleased).

  • **Arranged co-write between hit songwriter/artist Jaida Dreyer and songwriter/artist (and Award-Winning actor) Kevin Bacon and Michael Bacon of The Bacon Brothers.

  • Other U.S. artist Cuts: Drew Fish Band/Madison Kozak/Brennley Brown (Warehouse West)/Matt Farris/Mikayla Lane/Rachel Holder (3 cuts-Curb)/Richard Schroder/Brei Carter/Louie McFly/Anthony Krizan/MARK209/AJ Sanders/Abby Miller/Maggie Sajak/Max Flinn/Erica Nicole (6 cuts-GTR Records)/Ethan Payne/Tony Justice/Rachael Turner/4Runner/Pete Scobell/Kelsie May/Michael Austin/Chase Likens/Andrew Butcher/Maggie Baugh/Cody Purvis/Sandra Lynn/Cory Palfalvi/Markus Fox/Destiny/Ally Lindeen/Karly Menezes/Jackopierce/Ashley Brandenburg/Thomas-Marx/Brian Milson/Mallory Miller/Melissa Wray/Jordyn Stoddard/WestWend/Kali Rose/Beau+Luci/Abby Leathers/Kensy Brooke/Larissa/Maddie Leigh/Ashlynne Vince/Hollyann Arnold/All The Rest/Curtis Braly/Arista Manning/Summer Franklin/Camille Rae/Will Thompson/Layce Whitworth/Nick Hickman/Luke Aaron/Levi Riggs/TROIKA/Katlyn Lowe/Isa Pena’/Kara Zack/Derek Johnson/Carly Collura/David Alexander/Mark Bray/TracieLynn/Chloe’ Caroline/Jeannette King/Shane Cook/Morgan Ashley/Sarah Graysun/Kait Petty/Connor Greene/Caitlin Quisenberry/Derek Skelton/Mitchell Van Graham/Danielle Kalil/Bobby Watson/TexWestUs/Kollette/Brian Self/Parker Howard/Dawn Marie/Shae Smolik/The Wrights/Mattie Taylor/JB Aaron/Erin Gibney/Xan DuBose/Kopper & Kash/Jeff Yates/Taylor Nikkole/PATRICE/& others..

  • Canadian artist Cuts: George Canyon/Tim Hicks/Madeline Merlo/River Town Saints/Ryan Langdon/Chris Labelle/Adam Gregory/Jackson Hollow/Jerry Sereda/WYATT/Karen-Lee Batten/Jason Blaine/Jaydee Bixby/Chris Buck/Billy J. White/Marc Ekins/Chillbilly/Todd Richard/David James/Jason Kirkness/Craig Moritz/Dani-Lynn Trentham/Four Mile Road/Nikki Meeres/Ryan Keown/Danielle Marie/Nicole Rayy/Celine Tellier/Brad Sims/Roveena/Merv Tremblay/Lisa Nicole/Alessia Cohle/Nolan Hubbard/Becca Hess/Alex Runions/Richard Farrow/Brad Battle/Brad James/Steve Newsome/Kendra Kay/Don Amero/Nathan Cunningham/Past The Perimeter/Lori Kole/The Heels/Emily Clair/Ross Roteliuk/Steve Pointmeier/Big City Lights/& others..

  • Australian artist Cuts: Christie Lamb--2017 #1 singles “Flamethrower” and “Bad Habit” for ABC Music/Kaylens Rain/Sheridan McCulloch/Viper Creek Band/Ryan Daykin/Mickey Pye/Route 33/Leigha Moore/Troy Kemp/Juliet Oliver/Oh Harlow/Hunter Kaine/Jayne Denham/Chelsea Berman/Tanya Goltz/Australian Hit Country Ultimate Party Comp (2014)-Tim Hicks Cut incl.

  • European artist Cuts: Mark Blomsteel (Netherlands)/About Kings feat. Mario Barth (Austria)/Kristel Lisberg (Denmark)/Alis Vibe (Italy).

  • TV/FILM: Pitched/Secured song placement in 2013 theatrical release/movie GEOGRAPHY CLUB.

  • Studio production artist clients have included Rachel Lipsky, James Barker (Canada), The Darlins.

 

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