Universal Music sets up Australian operations for Lost Highway imprint

Universal Music Australia has set up Australian operations for America’s country and roots label Lost Highway Records – with NSW-based singer songwriter Catherine Britt as its first local signing.

Lost Highway was set up in 2001 in Nashville, with the idea of it becoming the country and roots equivalent of Atlantic and Stax which boasted high quality soul and R&B rosters. It went on to sign Ryan Adams, Lucinda Williams, The Jayhawks, Whiskeytown, Lyle Lovett, Bernard Fanning (for the US only), Shelby Lynne, the hugely successful soundtrack of Oh Brother, Where Art Thou? (7.8 million in America by mid-2013), Willie Nelson, Ryan Bingham, Johnny Cash and Elvis Costello among others.

Lost Highway Australia will support country and roots based music in Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific region. First signing Britt – who emerged at the age of 14 and was championed by Elton John – went on to live in Nashville where she scored entries in the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. The singer, who has a number of Golden Guitar country music wins and ARIA and APRA nominations, releases her sixth album this year.

Michael Taylor, Sydney-based executive VP of A&R at Universal Music Australasia said, “As a musician, A&R guy, and fan of the so called, alternative country genre, I have always been enamoured by the incredible artistry brought forth by Lost Highway Records.  Lost Highway Australia will strive to continue that high-quality legacy. And no other artist in Australia is as perfect to represent that continuation as Catherine Britt.  It is an honour to have her as Lost Highway Australia’s first signing… a damn good start to the label, if I say so myself.”