Ready Set Music finds success with creative approach

Trent and Kristen Dabbs' path to owning and operating an independent music company began at an unusual starting point.

Trent Dabbs, who co-wrote the Ingrid Michaelson single "Girls Chase Boys" that is storming the pop radio charts, didn't even know that songwriting was a possible career option. And Kristen Dabbs, who serves as the business-minded foil to her husband's musical creativity, had no plans to run a record label.

The Dabbs' Ready Set Music is a record label, publisher and artist management company. Founded in 2005, Ready Set is hitting its stride. In addition to the success of "Girls Chase Boys," Ready Set Records will release the new EP from Sugar & the Hi Lows next week, and the company will soon double down on the artist development aspect of the business. Already, Ready Set counts up-and-comer Young Summer as one of its clients and plans are in the works to add more.

Trent Dabbs recalled learning his neighbor was a songwriter shortly after moving to Nashville and 2003 and being amazed. Coming from Mississippi where he had scored an independent record deal as an artist, Dabbs was a music industry neophyte. He didn't know about publishing, licensing, artist development.

And he didn't know how songwriting as a profession worked, which is ironic considering both his success as a writer and his accomplishments touting Nashville's songwriting community to the rest of the world.

"I think that childlike delusion helped propel this," Trent Dabbs said.

"Music wasn't something you have to do, it was something you do because you love it," Kristen Dabbs added.

Ready Set is label home to the Ten out of Tenn collaborative, which cobbled together Nashville songwriters and artists from an array of genres and released their songs. Ten out of Tenn turned into a touring project too and has since released five compilation records.

While national media has turned its focus in recent years to Nashville's music scene being more than just country, Ten out of Tenn had already been telling that story for nearly a decade. By taking artists like Ashley Monroe, Matthew Perryman Jones and Mikky Ekko, all from different musical genres, on the road, Ten out of Tenn showed the full spectrum of Music City.

"I think Ten out of Tenn was a success because it gave outsiders hope and inspired them for music to not have to be this one path," Kristen Dabbs said.

As the Dabbses quickly learned the business, they combined their unique talents to launch Ready Set. While Trent Dabbs brought the creative focus, Kristen provided the business acumen. She previously worked in sales at Paste Magazine when the music publication was in its infancy and also helped propel local magazine American Songwriter forward.

Trent Dabbs describes himself as someone who never says no, which puts his wife in the position of harnessing his energy.

"The company grew about three years ago when I left other projects I was doing to strictly focus on managing (Trent), which is like managing five artists with all the different stuff he does," Kristen Dabbs said.

And just as Ten out of Tenn's calling card has been its eclectic mix of artists, Ready Set has an eclectic mix of offerings as a music company, too. The label will release the new EP "Wild Desire" from Sugar & the Hi Lows, which features Trent Dabbs and singer-songwriter Amy Stroup. The album is a cover of Johnny Cash songs, which the band played alongside live performances by the Nashville Ballet earlier this year.

Trent Dabbs' songwriting career has been skyrocketing, boasting co-writes with the likes of Michaelson, Monroe, Dave Barnes and Kacey Musgraves, and over 100 song placements on television.

And the Dabbses say they're excited to grow their artist development business.

"I just think Trent and Kristen saw that niche of creating a unique place for independent music business and have just continued to adapt," Stroup said.

Reach Nate Rau at 615-259-8094 and on Twitter @tnnaterau.