In a world of young stars making concessions to big labels in order to get a contract, Martina McBride will have no part of it! It’s come to be the accepted practice that most country artists will produce albums according to the record company’s specifications as part and parcel to their record deal. The label chooses the songs, picks the singles, and just has “the talent” along for the ride. Martina McBride however, finds it all a strange concept.

“I hear stories about record companies telling people what to sing and producers telling people what to sing and all that, and it’s foreign to me, because I’ve always had complete artistic control,” she tells The Grand Rapids Press. “I’ve always been able to record exactly what I wanted to record, and I have a big say in what singles are released, and I’m very involved in the studio.”

And when asked about the experience of owning her own studio:

“I’ve loved producing and creating,” Martina says. “When I listen to a song on the radio, I’m analyzing the drum sound and what the bass player is doing and how much [echo] is on the vocal.”

Look for some of Martina McBride’s hands on work her 2008 “Waking Up Laughing” tour where she teams with opening acts Jack Ingram and Lady Antebellum.Country Music Photo Gallery