Knotts & Gear To Lead Relaunched Lost Highway
• Lost Highway Records enters a bold new era with the full support of Interscope Geffen A&M. Harkening back to its roots, the relaunched Nashville-based label is committed to nurturing the creative vision of each artist and building their global connections with an intuitive, entrepreneurial approach. As plans have developed over the past year, the objective has always been to give artists the freedom and the resources to make the kind of records they’re driven to make.
John Janick, Chairman & CEO, Interscope Capitol and IGA, has hand-picked Robert Knotts and Jake Gear to lead Lost Highway as Executive Vice Presidents and Co-Heads of Lost Highway. Knotts (right) joins Lost Highway from Thirty Tigers, where he rose through the ranks from intern to Senior Vice President, Artist and Label Services. Gear (left) comes to Lost Highway from UMG Nashville where he most recently served as Vice President A&R.
“Lost Highway carved out a special place in the remarkable musical legacy of Nashville,” Janick said. “It was a left-of-center label with one-of-a-kind artists who, at their core, were great songwriters and moved culture. Similarly, Interscope has always been a beacon to artists who don’t fit into a box yet are destined to inspire what comes next. With this new chapter in Lost Highway’s history, we are devoted to empowering the next generation of trailblazers, both artists and executives.”
Knotts said, “Over the course of my career, my goal has always been to operate in service to the artist’s vision while understanding the emotional connection to their art. It is with this same spirit that Lost Highway left a lasting impact on the Nashville community – providing a home for artists who aren’t defined by genre and recognizing that the artist’s vision ultimately shapes culture itself. I am honored to carry that approach forward alongside one of my closest friends, Jake Gear. With John Janick’s guidance, and support from the entire Interscope team, we have an incredible opportunity to combine an artist-first mentality with Interscope’s remarkable ability to help build worlds around an artist’s vision.”
Gear noted, “Lost Highway has a rich history. Many of these releases and artists were formative in developing my own appreciation of the craft of songwriting. The label was a pioneer in taste, representing an ethos of artistry first, an openness to taking creative risks and shining a light on artists who drifted on the fringes of the major label defined ‘mainstream.’ Together with my friend, Robert, and with the backing of John Janick and Interscope, I look forward to curating the roster.”
Founded in 2000 by Luke Lewis, Lost Highway became home to such culture-defining artists of the era as Kacey Musgraves; Willie Nelson; Ryan Bingham; Hayes Carll; Lucinda Williams; Drive-By Truckers; Lyle Lovett; Tift Merritt; Robert Earl Keen; Shelby Lynne; Elvis Costello; and Mary Gauthier. The label was absorbed into Mercury Nashville when Lewis retired in 2012. [Jake Gear and Bobby Knotts photo by Matt Paskert]
