KASSI ASHTON RELEASES DEBUT SINGLE "CALIFORNIA, MISSOURI"

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Promising newcomer Kassi Ashton, recently named "Who to Watch" by Huffington Post, The Tennessean, and radio personality Bobby Bones' Class of 2018, today released her debut single, "California, Missouri". The song is available now via Universal Music Group Nashville and Interscope Records. Listen HERE.

Quickly making a name for herself with her soulful voice and authentic songwriting, Kassi shares, "This is the song I always knew I wanted to write. It's an intro in to everything I am." In the deeply personal song, Kassi digs into her experience as a self-described black sheep, ridiculed for her individuality and ready to break away. "I want the people who live here [California, Mo.] to hear it and know that I love them, but I also want them to know how bad it hurt," she continues. "I also want them to realize that the hurt and the beauty is what made me who I am completely."

In addition to writing the autobiographical "California, Missouri," Kassi created the concept and graphics for the song artwork. "This is my introduction to the world," she says. "I wanted people to get more than just a pretty picture." Comprised of seven layered images all shot at her father's farm, Kassi aimed for "high fashion editorial in front of a cliché, but honest, rural country background." The multiple layers each have significant meaning and range from one of her high school senior pictures, a time when the young songwriter says, "dreams were still dreams," to a pile of junk outside her dad's shop and a horse trailer. Kassi explains, "I've always tried to make beauty out of a mess - and I'm kind of a creative mess - and it's unconventional. I like things that are unconventional and skipped over." One of the final images is of three-year-old Kassi performing at her grandparents' home. Thinking back on all of those years with one goal in mind, Kassi shares, "I've thought about this my entire life - every day since I was that age - and now I'm living it."

For a more in-depth, unapologetic view into Kassi's "California, Missouri," visit www.KassiAshton.com.

http://kassiashton.com/

Mark Knopfler Signs a Worldwide Deal with Universal Music Group

New Album Privateering To Be Released September 10

SANTA MONICA, Calif., -- Universal Music Group announced a worldwide deal with legendary musician and songwriter Mark Knopfler . Knopfler's new record Privateering will debut on UMG's Verve Records   September 10 after a 35 year relationship with Warner Brother Records. Max Hole, Chairman and CEO UMG International comments, "Mark has long been one of the most innovative and successful artists in music and we're thrilled he's decided to sign to Verve so that we are now working with him everywhere across the world." The new music is Knopfler's first double album of new music in his entire recording career. "The older I get, the more I want to write," Knopfler notes. "I'm enjoying the process more than ever, writing, recording and playing live, I enjoy all of it. I'm almost tripping over songs."

Recorded at Knopfler's award-winning British Grove Studios in West London, Privateering is a collection of tough tales of real people, living hard lives in difficult times. The record features musicians Knopfler has been working with for years—Guy Fletcher (keyboards), Richard Bennett (guitar), Jim Cox (piano), Glenn Worf (bass), Mike McGoldrick (whistle and flute), John McCusker (fiddle) and the recent addition of Ian Thomas (drums). Special guests include Paul Franklin (pedal steel), Kim Wilson (harmonica), Tim O'Brien (mandolin), and rising singing star Ruth Moody, who is also a member of the leading roots group, The Wailin' Jennys.
Of the new release, Knopfler explains, "I chose to make a double album this time just because of the sheer volume of material. I didn't want to separate songs into genres and I didn't want to leave too many songs on the shelf. I just wanted it to be a reflection of the fantastic sessions we had. With a great bunch of players, it's the same as a great group of actors reading a script from the page, the thing can come alive in ways it just never has before. This is the band I have been working towards my whole life."
A multiple Grammy award winner as the lead singer/songwriter for Dire Straits, Knopfler combined his wry lyrics with his guitar prowess to create such major hits as "Money For Nothing," "Sultans Of Swing," "Romeo and Juliet" and "Walk of Life." He has collaborated with artists such as Bob Dylan, Randy Newman, Emmylou Harris and Van Morrison, as well as scoring several films including Cal, Local Hero, Princess Bride and A Shot at Glory.
SOURCE Universal Music Group

Iconic Artist Rod Stewart Inks Worldwide Recording Agreement With Universal Music Group (UMG)

LOS ANGELES, June 2012 -- Expanding its creative investment further, Universal Music Group has signed iconic artist Rod Stewart to a long-term worldwide recording agreement, it was announced today by Lucian Grainge, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the company, Mr. Stewart and his manager, Arnold Stiefel.

As part of this multi-album deal, the two-time Hall of Famer has teamed with Grammy award-winning producer, songwriter and Verve Music Group Chairman David Foster to record his first Christmas album.  Stewart's warm, expressive and distinctively raspy voice is proving a perfect fit for the holiday classics. The album will also feature a handful of star-studded vocal duets and is scheduled for release this fall via Verve Music Group. 

"I've known Rod and Arnold for many years and have been wanting to work with them for some time," stated Mr. Grainge. "Rod possesses one of pop music's most inventive and memorable voices; and we're delighted to be part of the next great chapter in his already storied career."

"UMG remains committed to artistic creativity and expanding opportunities for artists in the marketplace," continued Mr. Grainge. "And nowhere is this more evident than in our new partnership with an artist of Rod's caliber."

Rod Stewart commented, "I'm confident that by partnering with my fellow CBE, Lucian, and his cracking, top-notch company, we have the best team in the business. And the chance to work again with David Foster makes it that much sweeter." 

"This is a match made in heaven," Arnold Stiefel declared.  "Rod's writing spirit has been rekindled and Universal is the perfect keeper of the flame."

With his soulful and singular voice, narrative songwriting and passionate live performances, Rod Stewarthas paved one of the most iconic and successful musical careers of all time.  In July, he will reunite withStevie Nicks to reprise their acclaimed Heart & Soul tour and in September he will return to his Las Vegasresidency at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace. All on the heels of his hotly anticipated first memoir and Christmas album, which are both, scheduled for U.S. release this fall.

During Stewart's iconic five decade-long career, he has sold more than 150 million albums worldwide, scored countless charting hits, 18 Grammy nominations and two inductions into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.  He is a Grammy Living Legend and in 2007 was bestowed the prestigious CBE (Commander of The British Empire) title by the Queen of England. For more information, visit www.rodstewart.com.

About Universal Music Group

Universal Music Group is the world's leading music company with wholly owned operations in 60 territories. Its businesses also include Universal Music Publishing Group, the industry's leading global music publishing operation. Universal Music Group's record labels include A&M/Octone, Decca, Def Jam Recordings, Deutsche Grammophon, Disa, Emarcy, Fonovisa, Geffen Records, Interscope Records, Island Records, Lost Highway Records, Machete Music, MCA Nashville, Mercury Nashville, Mercury Records, Motown Records, Polydor Records, Universal Music Latino, Universal Republic and Verve Music Group as well as a multitude of record labels owned or distributed by its record company subsidiaries around the world. The Universal Music Group owns the most extensive catalogue of music in the industry, which includes the last 100 years of the world's most popular artists and their recordings. UMG's catalogue is marketed through two distinct divisions, Universal Music Enterprises (in the U.S.) and Universal Strategic Marketing (outside the U.S.). Universal Music Group also includes Global Digital Business, its new media and technologies division and Bravado, its merchandising company.

Universal Music Group is a unit of Vivendi, a global media and communications company.

SOURCE Universal Music Group