American country music record label
Lyric Street Records was the Disney Music Group's country music record label, founded in 1997 by Randy Goodman. The label had its first successes in 1998 with singles by Lari White and Aaron Tippin, both formerly of RCA Records. Other artists who recorded for the label included SHeDAISY and the label's most successful act, Rascal Flatts. A subsidiary label, Carolwood Records, existed between 2008 and 2009. Lyric Street Records was closed in 2010, with most of the former acts moving to other labels or exiting music entirely.
History
President Randy Goodman, formerly a general manager for RCA Records, founded the original unnamed label in June 1997 as a division of Hollywood Records and started operations on August 1.[1][2] Its first act was Lari White, who was formerly signed with RCA. Aaron Tippin, also then with RCA, and Violets, originally performing as the Osborne Sisters, were also in discussions about signing with the label as of December 1997. Goodman's plan for the company includes having no in-house producers and rely on Artists and repertoire division. Lyric Street Records was incorporated on May 19, 1998.[3]
SHeDAISY signed to the label in 1999 followed by Rascal Flatts. Rascal Flatts debuted with Lyric Street in 2000 with the single "Prayin' for Daylight" and soon replaced SheDAISY as the company's flagship act.[4] In December 2006, Lyric Street signed Bucky Covington, an American Idol finalist.[5]
The label launched a subsidiary label, Carolwood Records, in October 2008.[6] Jessica Andrews was the first artist signed to this subsidiary label, followed by Trent Tomlinson (who was formerly signed to Lyric Street proper) and Love and Theft. Carolwood was shuttered in November 2009, with most of its staff being transferred back to Lyric Street.[7] Love and Theft, Ruby Summer, Trent Tomlinson, and The Parks were moved to Lyric Street.[8]
On April 14, 2010, Disney Music Group announced the closure of the Lyric Street label. This announcement also stated that Bucky Covington, Kevin Fowler, Tyler Dickerson, and Rascal Flatts would be transferred to other branches of Disney Music Group. Buxton, Love and Theft, and The Parks were dropped altogether with the closure of Lyric.[4] By August, Rascal Flatts had transferred to Big Machine Records.[9] In 2011, Love and Theft moved to RCA Nashville.
