Sarver leaves his record label
Michael confirms exclusively to AI Now that he has parted ways with Dream Records and Universal Music Group. Tonight we talked with Michael about what's behind the surprising announcement and what lies ahead for the fan favorite and country artist.
AI Now: Landing a recording contract with a major label sounds truly like a dream come true to contestants who try out for American Idol. So, can you start off by explaining what all factors are behind you're parting ways with the label?
Michael: Signing a record deal right after the show was indeed a dream come true! But I think it was so exciting that I made a bad decision going with the wrong label. The factors that have contributed to me parting ways with Dream Records are the same factors that cripple a lot of indie labels. Money! They recorded my record and even gave me a small portion of my signing bonus but simply could not afford to go any further than that. No promotion, no radio and no marketing definitely crippled the release of what I consider to be a great debut album.
AI Now: Whose decision was this or was it mutual?
Michael: Parting ways with the label was my idea. After realizing that my career was dying and that the label had no way to give my career life, I eventually asked to be released. The response from the label was actually very nice and understanding! Knowing that they no longer had the resources to sustain my career and at the same time truly having my best interest in mind, the president, Dave Hanley quickly and graciously agreed to release me and allow me to go out and hopefully salvage my career.
AI Now: When did you first start to get a feeling that things might not work out with Dream Records as you had hoped?
Michael: I first got the feeling that things were not going to work out when my album release date was decided, yet for months I watched as no promotion other than video promotion was happening. And when I asked, they said, they did not have the finances to do correct promotion. It was a hard dose of reality but it told me what I needed to know.
AI Now: If you had known what you do today, would you still have signed with Dream Records last year?
Michael: I know a lot of people say no regrets but I don't lie very well. I admit that if I would have known what I know now I absolutely would not have signed with Dream Records. Other than some really great relationships built due to signing, I definitely regret my decision to sign with Dream Records.
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