10 Questions with ... David Haley

BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:

David Haley is a 30+ year veteran in the Country music format as a promotion executive and former broadcaster. MCA Nashville was David's label home for many years, where he enjoyed the label's success as both a regional promotion director and Sr. VP of Promotion. The MCA roster at the time included George Strait, Reba, Vince Gill, Trisha Yearwood, Gary Allen and the Mavericks. David was part of the setup and delivery of over 100 #1 Country singles to radio. The #1 list continued to grow for him as he was named head of promotion for Warner Brothers Nashville, scoring hits for Blake Shelton as well as Randy Travis with "Three Wooden Crosses." Haley has been recognized with numerous industry awards including twice being named Radio & Records' Promo Executive of the Year. Most recently David worked with Little Big Town as they broke "Boondocks" at radio with a top ten hit that helped the group sell over 1.3 million units. Little Big Town was part of the Equity Music Group roster that included Kevin Fowler and Clint Black. Always interested in the creative process, David is a SESAC writer, a member of the Screen Actors Guild, and can be heard on XM Radio as part of the cast of Marty Stuart's American Odyssey Radio Show.

1) Congrats on starting your own company, EdgeHill Music and Media in 2009! What are you excited about with the company in 2010?

Thanks! The company is only a few months old so I look forward to building the business during 2010. This is an exciting era in our industry with many artists taking control of their careers. The talent level and music has never been better.

2) What first drew you to working in Country music and what was your first job in the music industry?

I grew up a Country music fan. My first music industry job was a weekend jock on WJXN in my hometown of Jackson, MS.

3) Who would you count among your mentors inside and outside of the business? What is the best advice you've ever gotten?

I have been truly blessed by a group of guys who came a generation before me that have helped me so much. The entire interview could be this question alone. My friends Tandy Rice, Charlie Monk, John Dorris Sr., Sam Cerami, Tom Collins and Gene Hughes Sr. have meant so much to me through the years. I have to say Bruce Hinton as well. I worked for Bruce for eighteen years at MCA and I've known Bruce since I was twenty one. Everyday I use something Bruce taught me. I would have to say before I met any of those guys I had two wonderful parents and an older sister that loved and supported me in every way possible. The common theme with all these people is a positive outlook and a kind spirit. They are all outgoing, friendly and interested in sharing their knowledge.

The best advice I have ever gotten is don't let fear become the master in your life. Fear can rob you of your peace of mind as well as your ability to do your best. I always have to guard against Fear and its best friend Worry. I love the old Irish expression, "Worry - it helps us get through the good times."

4) What inspired you to start your own company and have there been surprises?

I started Edgehill because I thought that a company with this kind of business model is part of the future of a changing music industry. I wanted to be on the front end of that. My surprise was I thought I knew how much unsigned talent there was out there, on major and independent labels. As I have gotten into this the last few months, I have had the chance to meet with and work with artists and managers who are making a great living playing music on the road, creating music in small or home studios and managing and taking charges of their careers. We have no shortage of talent in this business. There is abundance.

5) You have been a part of the team behind over 100 #1 singles in Country radio. Can you play favorites and tell us a few of the hits that you have been most proud of through the years?

Trisha Yearwood's version of "How Do I Live" was the most rewarding of all the number one singles I have been involved with. You might recall we had a cover battle going with LeAnn Rimes. Not only did we get the number one, Trisha won a CMA and ACM award plus a Grammy as a result of her version reaching the top of the Country chart. "Today My World Slipped Away" was the George Strait single that meant the most to me. It such a hardcore Country record and I knew how much it meant to George to have it go all the way to #1. While I was at Warner Bros., Randy Travis released "Three Wooden Crosses." The single was on Word Records and the Warner promo staff worked it at Country radio. The single went to #1 by less than 10 spins. Randy had not had a #1 in over ten years. During my MCA years, I was part of the team that had all those great George Strait singles going to Country radio. I am very proud to say I worked over 50 of his singles that went to #1.

6) You were Sr. VP of Promotion at MCA for five very successful years and worked with the careers of acts like George Strait, Vince Gill and Trisha Yearwood. What do you think were the keys to the label's success at the time and would those things still hold true today?

Please don't forget Reba in that elite group. I am so happy for her recent success at radio. As always, she has great music and I think Scott and those Big Machine kids may be on to something over there. They have done a great job. I always tell people MCA Nashville was an amazing place to work. Tony Brown was a magnet for all those artists, they respected him and I always felt as a producer he helped everyone on the label get their best when they made a record. I mentioned Bruce earlier. As chairman of MCA Nashville, Bruce Hinton was artist friendly while understanding every angle of the business side of this industry. We were a company of systems working like a well oiled machine. I think the gifts and leadership both of those guys brought to the table helped build that roster that is one of the strongest our format has ever seen. I have watched the guys at Capitol the past couple of years building something very close.

7) It's interesting that you are also a SESAC writer. Have you being writing lately and if you could pen a song for one artist who would it be?

Well, let's say this; I am not giving up my day job. I became a SESAC writer over twenty-five years ago. I wrote a song with another writer Steve Carroll. This was before I moved to Nashville and I wrote it with him on the phone. Several years later Toni Price cut our song and it was a mid chart single. Toni Price later took another direction with her music and became well known in the Austin music scene. To this day I have never meet Steve Carroll face to face. As far as an artist I would like to write a song for- Is Bootsy Collins still making records?

8) Tell us about your character as part of the cast for the Marty Stuart Show. How did you get involved with the show?

Marty is a very smart man. Saying that, I don't know why he let me be his radio sidekick on his American Odyssey show on XM. When XM went away so did the radio show but I played a character named King David who was a liar, huge ego, not to be trusted, will say anything to benefit himself along the way. King David also has a crush on Britney Spears and would always send her messages just in case she was tuned in. Like Britney if you are out there baby just know I could be a good daddy to those children. On the TV side Marty has his weekly show on the RFD network. So far I can't get a speaking part but he has me hanging out in the studio audience doing crazy stuff. Marty is a very good friend and I am so lucky to have that relationship.

9) You're worn a lot of hats in the music industry but if you were to try something completely different outside the industry, what would your dream job be?

I would enjoy a position at the Center for the Study of Southern Culture at the University of Mississippi.

10) Tell us about the love of your life, your dog.

Buddy is great - he's the only creature I know who loves to sleep more than me. Buddy is a regular chick magnet. If we are out scores of pretty girls come over, run their fingers through his fur, rub his belly, kiss his nose, look into his huge brown eyes and tell him how handsome he is. When I am out by myself nothing like that ever happens. I will tell him you ask about him when he wakes up.

I know you have traveled all over throughout the years. What is your favorite place to visit for pleasure? And is there one restaurant that you just have to get to?

South Africa - I loved everything about the trip if you don't count the sixteen hour plane ride. There is not one I have to get to but there are about 3,000 I wanna get back to.

Who would you most like to have dinner with (living or dead)?

This is an easy question for me. My dad passed away when I was 28. I would like to have that dinner and tell him about all the great things that have happened in my life including catching him up on his granddaughter Crystal who was only six when he died. The only reason I might not pick him would be if that dinner did happen I would hate to see it end.

Why do you call everyone daddy?

It goes back to my days in school where if someone was the daddy he had power over you. If I refer to you as the daddy you are in charge, kind of like an alpha dog thing.