Nardia Drayton Launches Rock This Country

Nardia Drayton is going solo.

The long-time ex-Social Family Records label manager and publicist launches Rock This Country, a PR and publicity firm with an affiliated distribution and label services arm, RTC Records.

At launch, Rock This Country boasts a range of PR clients, including Jake Davey, Katie Jayne, Abbie Ferris, Michael Carpenter, Codee-Lee, Tania Murray, Bonnie Kellett, Grayson, Route 33, Gareth Leach, The Hello Darlins, Dan Davidson, and more.

“I’m very excited to be heading into this new era with the creation of RTC Records,” she comments in a statement to TMN.

“Country music is my passion and I look forward to continuing to represent and champion some of Australia’s brightest and up and coming independent country music stars, by offering them a ‘one-stop shop,’ with an open and transparent business model.”

With RTC Records, labels and artist can opt in for digital or physical distribution, label services and licensing, partnering with MGM, in addition to consultancy and PR, publicity, radio & media servicing.

Drayton earned her stripes working with the cream of Australia’s country scene, including Amber Lawrence (Superheroes, Happy Ever After, The Kid’s Gone Country), Andrew Swift (Call Out for the Cavalry), Fanny Lumsden (Small Town Big Shot), Casey Barnes (Live as One), Troy Kemp (Against the Grain) and others.

“Whether you’re a brand new artist just starting out or you’ve been around for years, Rock This Country can get your singles, EPs and albums out into the world,” reads the blurb on the company’s official website.

Country is on the climb.

Thanks to the likes of Keith Urban, Morgan Evans and songwriter/producer Lindsay Rimes cracking Nashville and going global, and with other Aussie acts crossing borders, Bigsound this year launches a country music strand, with Lumsden appointed as the inaugural Bigsound Country ambassador.

Australia, say organisers of the annual event, is tipped as the world’s fastest-growing country music market.

Visit rockthiscountry.com.au for more on Drayton’s new venture.