Mercury Records Tweets For Their Future

This got sent out today on Twitter.

UMG has an exclusive production agreement with a MAJOR producer.. They are looking for a 18-26 year old Male Country/Rock Vocal. Can’t say who the producer is..

Radio might generate some buzz by posting this on their sites, and talking about it. This is real.. not a hoax. - Damon Moberly, VP National Promotion, Mercury Records Nashville (click for more info)

Is This The Future Of The Radio-Records Relationship?

Katie Dean's regular Friday "Mercury Radio Report" email to programmers contained this offer from the label: if you'd like to listen via stream to the new Jamey Johnson that debuted last week on the CMT Awards telecast, you're welcome to hear the single with a click, but if you'd like to play it on the air for your listeners, it's going to cost you $1.29 at iTunes or 99 cents Amazon.

You can't blame them for trying something a bit different - and making a few bucks along the way - while hopefully building a downloads story for the August launch of Jamey's huge new album.

If their strategy works, what will you choose to play if/when you have to pay for every song you consider adding to your radio station?

Quality stuff only, I'm betting.

.. which just might make radio even better for both listeners and our advertisers.