(Nashville, Tenn. – October 15, 2013) – Invictus Entertainment Group and Universal Music Canada has announced the launch of Big Star Recordings. Under the new partnership, product distribution will be handled by Universal Music Canada, while Invictus Entertainment Group (IEG) will oversee the marketing, promotion and day-to-day interfacing with the artists and management.
Although the label will oversee more domestically based projects, they are planning to evaluate deals with U.S. based and international clients who recognize that Canada possesses the world’s second largest country music consumer base and want to prioritize it into their release plans.
The partnership idea came to IEG President, Jim Cressman, after working with major labels on behalf of artists and realizing that an independent record company working in tandem with the distributor would be an asset.
“We’re in the artist services business – promoting/touring, booking, management and now we’ve entered the label business,” says Invictus Entertainment Group President, Jim Cressman.
“Universal is proud to be partnering with Jim and his Big Star Recordings team,” commented Randy Lennox, President & CEO, Universal Music Canada. “Canada has a rich history in country music and Jim is one of the best at finding and nurturing these artists.”
The first signing to Big Star Recordings is George Canyon. Canyon’s first single under the agreement, “Slow Dance” is his most successful single launch, thus far in his career. Canyon has sold over 300,000 albums in Canada. He has toured the country from coast to coast and won numerous CCMA Awards and many other accolades over the past decade. Canyon also has many acting credits in film and TV shows. His latest televised performance is a remake of the 1929 classic Gary Cooper movie, “The Virginian” with Trace Adkins and Ron Perlman.
“Big Star Recordings gives me the best of both worlds. All the distribution and promotional muscle of Universal with the boutique day to day interface that I am used to with my manager – Jim Cressman,” says Big Star’s debut artist George Canyon. “It’s exciting to be part of this new imprint and we are off to an incredible start with ‘Slow Dance,’” thanks to our friends at Canadian radio!”
Cressman makes frequent trips to Nashville to strengthen relationships and evaluate the changes in the Country Music scene stateside. He is a long time Board member of the Canadian Country Music Association.
The first release on Big Star Recordings is George Canyon’s hit single, “Slow Dance,” which will be released on iTunes October 15th.
About Invictus Entertainment Group (IEG): Invictus Entertainment Group has established a reputation developing talent in the Canadian music business as well as being a quality asset in entertainment procurement services, event programming, promoting, talent buying and artist representation. Formed by Alberta native Jim Cressman, whose previous ventures included The Key Agency Group and the Cressman Sakamoto Agency, formed Invictus Entertainment Group to provide a new, adaptive edge to the music industry and has succeeded in building up a roster of leading Canadian country acts as well as an impressive portfolio of secondary and tertiary market venue partners that have expanded the market base in Canada for international touring. Cressman recently won awards for Booking Agency of the Year and Talent Buyer/Promoter of the Year at this year’s Canadian Country Music Association Awards.
