{{Short description|Defunct American country music record label}} {{Infobox record label <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject_Music --> | name = Universal Records | image = | image_size = | image_alt = | caption = | parent = | founded = {{sda|1988}} | founder = [[Jimmy Bowen]] | defunct = {{end date|1989}} | status = Defunct | distributor = [[Universal Music Group Nashville|MCA Nashville]] | genre = [[Country music|Country]] | country = United States | location = [[Nashville, Tennessee]] }} '''Universal Records''' was an American [[country music]] record label. Established in 1988 by [[Jimmy Bowen]], it was merged into [[Capitol Records Nashville]] in 1989.
==History== Record producer [[Jimmy Bowen]] established the Universal Records label in December 1988. It was distributed by [[Universal Music Group Nashville|MCA Nashville]], and featured its own team of producers, promotion, and [[artists and repertoire]] (A&R). The label's roster at foundation consisted of [[Joe Barnhill]], [[Lacy J. Dalton]], [[Larry Gatlin]] and the Gatlin Brothers, [[Joni Harms]], [[Tim Malchak]], [[Scott McQuaig]], [[Nitty Gritty Dirt Band]], [[Carl Perkins]], [[Eddie Rabbitt]], [[Eddy Raven]], and [[Roger Whittaker]]. Dalton's ''Survivor'' was issued in January 1989 as the label's inaugural album. Nitty Gritty Dirt Band also issued ''[[Will the Circle Be Unbroken: Volume Two]]'' through the label.<ref>{{cite journal|date=December 9, 1988|title=Universal Label Makes Big Nashville Splash|journal=[[Radio & Records]]|pages=1, 30|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Archive-RandR/1980s/1988/RR-1988-12-09.pdf}}</ref>
In July 1989, Bowen announced that Universal would be the first Nashville label not to issue [[phonograph record]]s.<ref>{{cite magazine|date=July 1, 1989|title=Nashville's Un/versa/Bids Viny/Adieu|magazine=Billboard|pages=1, 89|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/80s/1989/BB-1989-07-01.pdf}}</ref> A September 1989 article in ''Billboard'' described the label as "fledgling" and noted that projects by [[John Anderson (musician)|John Anderson]], [[Wild Rose (band)|Wild Rose]], and other artists had been delayed.<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Morris|first=Edward|date=September 23, 1989|title=Universal Prez Puts Rumors To Rest: Says Label Is Healthy, He Isn't Leaving|magazine=Billboard|page=40|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/80s/1989/BB-1989-09-23.pdf}}</ref>
Bowen dissolved the Universal label in December 1989, and its entire roster was merged into [[Capitol Records]] Nashville when Bowen assumed presidency of that division.<ref>{{cite book |editor-last=Kingsbury|editor-first=Paul|title=The Encyclopedia of Country Music|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=untabCgOVkgC&pg=PA46|publisher=[[Oxford University Press]]|location=New York|year=1998|isbn=978-0195176087}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|date=December 23, 1989|title=TICKERTAPE|journal=[[Cash Box]]|page=2|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/80s/1989/CB-1989-12-23.pdf}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|date=December 15, 1989|title=Bowen takes shop to Capitol|journal=[[Gavin Report]]|page=2|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Gavin-Report/80/89/Gavin-Report-1989-12-15.pdf}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
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[[Category:American country music record labels]] [[Category:Record labels established in 1988]] [[Category:Record labels disestablished in 1989]] [[Category:Defunct record labels of the United States]]