Sign up for newsletter
 

Shania Twain heating up again?

Thursday, August 26, 2010 – The musical career of Shania Twain apparently is heating up again.

On Wednesday, one of the key players in the country music scene, Universal Music Nashville Senior Vice President for Media, Artist Relations & Creative Services Jason Owen said he was leaving to form management company Sandbox Entertainment. His first client is Twain. She has not released an album since "Up!" in 2002. Since then, Twain, who turns 45 Saturday, has gotten divorced from her husband/producer Robert "Mutt" Lange. Rumor has it that she has been working on a new album.

Twain announced plans for her own TV show, entitled "Why Not? With Shania Twain." The show is scheduled to debut in early 2011 on OWN: The Oprah Winfrey Network.

Based in Nashville, Sandbox will open its doors Sept. 7. Owen will serve as a consultant to Universal. "Shania and I have been together for over eight years in my role at UMG and to start this new journey with her is a true privilege for me," Owen said. "We have some exciting plans in the works that will expand her worldwide career into new areas of music and entertainment, which will all be revealed very soon."

"Jason has done a tremendous job in helping us to guide the careers of many of our artists," said UniversalChairman/CEO Luke Lewis. "While we are sorry to see him move on, we certainly understand it. We wish him only the very best and are delighted that we will continue to work with him in his consultancy role."

Owen joined the label after starting in television. He has held his current role since 2005.

More news for Shania Twain

CD reviews for Shania Twain

UP!
When listening to Shania Twain's first album in five years, the listener is faced with making the big decision - blue or green disc. Green supposedly contains 19 country songs. With red, you get the pop version of those same exact songs recorded (international fans get a blue album with Asian sounds). Twain may be generous with the amount of material here, but the overall effect is one of too much music and not enough quality. Yes, there are some country touches and instrumentation, but if you »»»
Come On Over
Like a good many country artists in the HNC phase of country, success seems to breed a situation where artists turn their backs on the very genre which spawned them. After the massive success of "The Woman In Me," Shania Twain has strayed very far from country in what is essentially a pop album. Few of the 16 songs are country: the first single, the catchy, uptempo "Love Gets Me Every Time" with its killer three fiddle attack, "You're Still The One," "Honey, I'm Home," (a lousy job blues song, »»»
Editorial: Walking the talk – When names like Hank Williams, Johnny Cash, Waylon and the Hag are invoked, you're talking hard core country. These are the touchstones of country , the guys who made country music what it was and still is (or maybe can be). When these folks would sing about being down-and-out and the rough-and-tumble, they knew of what they were singing about. Fast forward a few years to the country singers of today. »»»
Concert Review: Size doesn't matter to Winslow-King – Luke Winslow-King may have a fine new CD out ("The Coming Tide") on a long respected indie country/roots label (Bloodshot), but that didn't mean the throngs were going to fill the club. In fact, in a second night of shows in the Boston area, Winslow-King drew a handful of people. Well, make that literally two handfuls of people. As in 10 people.... »»»
Concert Review: McGraw has plenty of fight left – Despite the fact that Tim McGraw is five years sober, fit as a triathlete and touring behind a number one album, he is still in an unenviable position. As he approaches 50, McGraw has to stay a step ahead of the current crop of young country hunks with TV shows, cross format radio airplay and wider appeal. But as he proved at First Niagara's... »»»
Subscribe to Country News Digest Country News Digest      Follow Country Standard Time on twitter CST      Visit Country Standard Time on Facebook CST

Elsewhere in the news

Currently at the CST blogs

It's about time for Willis, Robison Some folks listening to Kelly Willis and Bruce Robison's new duet album, "Cheaters Game," may well exclaim, 'Well, it's about time!' after finally hearing these two talented country singer/songwriters recording music as a pair for the first time. Willis has built quite a following for her independently-minded feminine perspective, while Robison has written hits for the Dixie Chicks (Travelin' Soldier) and Tim McGraw and Faith Hill (Angry All the Time), as well as penning the ultimate Willie Nelson tribute, What Would Willie Do? and recording it as a solo act. ... »»»
Steve Forbert remains Alive on Arrival Last fall, singer/songwriter Steve Forbert dropped the 14th studio album of his 35-year career, the impeccable "Over With You." Critics recognized the album as a return to the form Forbert displayed on his earliest works - 1978's stripped back and personal "Alive on Arrival" and 1979's more lushly produced and commercially accessible "Jackrabbit Slim" - but the fact is that Forbert has never strayed far from their basic folk/rock tenets.... »»»
Decades later, Miller, Lauderdale finally join forces Over the course of the past 20 years or so, Jim Lauderdale and Buddy Miller have both experienced a certain rise in their respective rootsy country profiles. Miller has become one of Nashville's hottest speed dial numbers, as an artist, a guitarist-for-hire (a role he has performed for Lucinda Williams, Emmylou Harris and Robert Plant, among others) and an intuitive producer (he's currently working with Executive Music Producer T Bone Burnett to provide the soundtrack for ABC's "Nashville" television series).... »»»
Wilderness CD review - Wilderness
"Wilderness" is another twisted menagerie of The Handsome Family songs. Once again, husband Brett Sparks sings their songs, sometimes in a bellowing gravedigger voice, after adding music to wife Rennie's lyrics. This time out, each and every tune is named after an animal, insect or other such nature creature. However, Rennie studies animals the way Flannery O'Connor wrote about humans, which is with the weirdness and character flaws in primary focus. »»»
Love Is Everything CD review - Love Is Everything
George Strait may have reached his seventh decade, but he shows zero signs of slowing down. In fact, Strait seems to be getting even more consistent as he gets older. Strait doesn't stray all that far from the formula that has resulted in superstar status. First and foremost, that means his sonorous voice is mixed far above the music, a very good thing. »»»