In recent years, country music record labels have introduced stars like Tim McGraw, Lee Ann Rimes and Brad Paisley. But the impact of the digital age has caused a seismic shift affecting the entire recording industry, requiring country music recording labels to rethink the way they do business. Now that independent artists can showcase and distribute their music online, country music record labels can't rely on old ways to sell records or ignore the impact of the Internet.

Music labels in general are now less willing to shower an unknown artist with a huge package deal, instead testing them in a digital format to see how they fare with the public. Major country record companies also expect more initial legwork from A & R people (stands for artists and repertoire), who bring talent to the attention of the record labels.

Here are a few ways to stay on top of country music industry news.

1. Get involved with as many associations related to country music as you can.

2. Read a mix of industry-insider publications, as well as consumer-oriented websites to find news on country record labels.

3. Pay attention to the Internet as a promotion spot for emerging country artists.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Become familiar with country music record labels through membership

One great way to stay informed of country music record labels news and trends is to check out the major associations in country music. With industry memberships, you'll know which artists are up and coming, and which labels are most actively looking for new talent.

I recommend: The Country Music Association is the major association for the country music industry, and hosts the annual CMA Awards, a must-see for anyone learning about the industry. Membership in the CMA includes the helpful CMA Industry Guide with information on record labels. Get the latest on the country music business with a subscription to CMT newsletters.

Take advantage of industry links to country music labels

If you're pursuing a career in country music, you'll want to learn as much about the business that you can. You can learn who's who at country music by checking in with some valuable sources at a country record label.

I recommend: Country Start is a valuable resource of information about country music labels, providing links to all the major players. Billboard Biz features news from major country music record labels.

Stay tuned in to news about country music record companies

The country music scene is certainly dynamic, with artists frequently changing labels or starting their own country CD labels altogether. Taking in a daily diet of country music news will help you find out vital industry happenings.

I recommend: Country Hound delivers news about country music record labels and offers a subscription to a live feed of syndicated country news. The Wall Street Journal discusses why country music has not only survived, but thrived through the cooperation of the Country Music Association.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  If you're seeking out a recording contract from a country record label, first you have to get noticed by influential A&R people, who will help you land the contract you're seeking.

You’ve got a song, you let it out . . . now what? Just what does it take to get picked up by country music record companies? And with so many country music recording labels out there, from major country music record labels to independent country music record labels, which ones should you contact and what should you send them?

While more and more independent artists have signed record deals from exposure on MySpace and the like, the traditional route of getting a demo in front of a country music record company is still the road often traveled by many top recording artists. To get your songs heard by a country music recording company, consider the following:

1. Work with a professional to create a high-quality demo of your very best songs before submitting anything to a country music label.

2. Hire a music agent to help get your demo in front of major country record companies.

3. Consider peddling your music to country record labels on your own.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Spend time on a demo before contacting country music record companies

Nothing will turn off country music recording companies more than an amateur-sounding demo. Don't let your talent be overshadowed by poor quality production; spend the money to do the demo right.

I recommend: Check out Mile High Music to create a professional country music demo. It can add voices, instruments, voice effects and more to make a smooth-sounding demo. Demo My Song works with artists in all musical genres to create professional-sounding music demos to send to country CD labels. The company can even assist with songwriting.

Hire an agent to help you get in front of country music record labels

Just like most areas of the entertainment industry, it's not what you know, but who you know. Well, music agents and other professionals have the connections with country record labels to get you one step closer to a country music publishing contract.

I recommend: Artist Development Network is located right on Music Row in Nashville. The company specializes in helping country music artists do what they do best – singing and songwriting – while it takes care of the getting them in front of the right people. Find a list of music agents around the world at SimplytheBest.

Contact country music record labels on your own

If you decide to attempt to get a record contract with major country record labels or independent country record labels, be sure to send a demo with three to five of your best songs (with your best, most commercial-sounding song first); an 8X10 high-quality photo of yourself or your band; and a biography that discusses your goals and experience as a musician - local reviews, show dates, etc. The more professional the demo package, the better.

I recommend: Consider sending your demo to labels that focus specifically on country music, like Arista Nashville or BNA Records Label. Record Labels & Companies Guide has a list of major labels and independent labels. The A&R Registry is a music-industry publication that is updated every eight weeks with the A&R contact of every major music record label and independent music labels throughout the United States, Canada and the UK. This is a vital resource for anyone attempting to break into the music biz.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Now that every band in the world has a MySpace site, the old-fashioned route to get the attention of country music label A&R scouts still makes a lot of sense: Get out on the road and tour and build a real audience.

Once you have a country music demo put together, it's time to find a country music record company to pitch it to. However, this is not as easy as just going to a studio and knocking on the door or slipping it in the mailbox.

Before you get in touch with country record labels, you need to learn a few things about how the country music industry works and how to navigate the maze to your benefit. Three key points to study up on are:

1. How to determine which country music record companies are your best target audience;

2. The best way to present your demo to a country CD label;

3. Marketing ideas to promote your act and get label scouts to come to you.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Research different country CD labels to see where your music fits best

You may have only heard of a couple of country music labels, but there are actually dozens in the United States alone. Learning more about each one is an essential step to finding the industry audience you're looking for.

I recommend: Visit the Country Startpage and browse through the list of labels. Click on each one to visit the respective country music record label website. Review the artists each label represents to see where you may fit in best. Look at the music and each act's image or "brand." If your music is more folk or blues oriented than traditional country, go to NewPages' list of independent labels to do your research.

Learn to dress up your demo before you present it to country CD labels

You could be the greatest country artist in world, but representatives of country music record labels may throw it out before they get chance to notice if you don't put together a top-notch presentation.

I recommend: Consider taking an online course on the music industry through Berklee College of Music to learn more about the people you need to target and how best to reach them. Then visit ReachingRecords and read the extensive list of tips on making a demo disc with the potential to impress.

Determine how to make country music record labels come to you

While you are trying to reach a country music label, so are hundreds of others. Because of all this competition, reps aren't jumping at the chance to listen to every CD that crosses the desk or respond to every unsolicited phone call. However, they often go out to country music performances and try to find unsigned acts with promise. That means a good part of your country music record labels education and training should consist of finding out how to get seen.

I recommend: Learn all you can about A&R, which stands for artist and repertoire. A&R reps are the people you want to have at your shows. Go to Taxi's website and read the list of the top 10 things this A&R company looks for. Then go to Hitquarters and read the interview with Rick Devoe of Rick Devoe Management on the subject.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  If you want to get approached by a country record label, get out there and play your music. Tour early and often. Use social networking sites to increase your fan base and have everyone you know, and everyone they know, spread the word of how great you are.

If your businesses is involved in shopping country talent, you need to know country music record labels basics. This includes learning about major country record companies and the type of artists they look for.

There are a lot of different aspects to country CD labels, so you may not have any idea of where to get started. Here are three steps that can help steer you in the proper direction:

1. Find out about as many major country record companies as possible and obtain their contact information.

2. Research artists that each label you're interested in has currently signed to see if they fit your niche.

3. Read about the best way to approach a label to try to shop your talent there.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Find out about as many major country record companies as possible

You may not know just how many country music recording companies are out there. Once you find out, the choice may seem overwhelming, but it is important to explore all of your options. You don't need to contact each of these labels, but you don't want to miss out on one that could be perfect for your client.

I recommend: Start with The Country Startpage, which features links to the websites of more than 100 country labels in the United States, Canada, Europe and Australia. If you don't find that list to be comprehensive enough, Allrecordlabels has more than 500 country music labels listed on its website.

Research artists that have signed with each country music label

Once you've looked through the country music recording labels that are available, it's time to figure out which are the best for you to approach. One good way is to look at each label's artist list. If it's not on the label's website, contact their customer service department. Listening to some of these artists before shopping your clients can help you determine if they would be a fit.

I recommend: Universal Music Nashville, which is a huge and influential country label, has its artist list on its website. You can even listen to clips of each artists' songs. Another label with an online list is Destiny Row Records. Don't count out labels that make you take the extra step of calling. This is often true with the smaller or more niche labels.

Read about the best way to approach a label to try to shop your talent

Approach each country music record label in person after you've picked a few country music record companies that have artist lists that seem promising. This doesn't mean just arriving at the front desk with an armload of CDs. There is a science to doing this properly.

I recommend: Read Make It in Music's article on how to begin the process. This advice will work for major country record companies and smaller labels. Once you "get an in" at a label, you'll need to know some of the pointers in Music Biz Academy's article on record deals. This will help you make sure your clients are treated fairly if the country record label decides to offer a contract.