New York, NY (Top40 Charts) - With more than 91 years of combined experience in the music industry, John Dorris and Mike
Kraski have begun a joint venture to form New Vision Artist Management.
"When you say the name John Dorris, three words come to mind; success, integrity and experience. It's an honor for me to be working together with a man I've admired for as long as I've been here in Nashville," said Mike Kraski.
Dorris adds, "In today's world, artists need managers to better support label efforts and, at times, to perform the role of the label. With Mike's success at both Sony and Equity, his experience, combined with mine, makes for a very strong team."
Dorris' Hallmark Direction Company will remain in operation separately from the newly announced co-venture. New Vision is seeking and evaluating signings to its roster. You can reach John Dorris at
[email protected] and Mike
Kraski at
[email protected].
About John Dorris:
John Dorris, Sr. began his career as a tax accountant for Price Waterhouse upon earning his B.S. degree in Accounting from Tennessee Tech University. After becoming a CPA, he joined one of his Price Waterhouse clients, Lin Broadcasting Corporation, to head up the company's in-house tax department. After several years with the media giant, he became the head of Business Affairs for one of Nashville's most successful independent record labels and publishing houses, Monument Records and Combine
Music Publishing. As the label marked record number sales with such artists as Roy Orbison, Kris Kristofferson, Larry Gatlin, Billy Joe Shaver, Billy Swan and others, Dorris developed a sincere and passionate respect for artists.In 1983, Dorris opened Hallmark Direction Company with the legendary Don Williams as his initial client. John Michael Montgomery, Doug Stone, Montgomery Gentry,
Blake Shelton, Mark Wills,
Leslie Satcher, The Whites, Dean Dillon, Dusty Drake, Western Flyer,
James Bonamy, HoriPro Entertainment and many others have or have had a home at Hallmark Direction Company. He served on the Academy of Country Music's Board of Directors for over twenty years and as Treasurer during his last ten years. He also received the Mae Boren Axton Award in 2010 for his work with the ACM Board of Directors. He is a member of the CMA, NARAS, and the AICPA (American
Institute of Certified Public Accountants) and the Tennessee Society of CPA's. Dorris has also served on the following boards throughout his career: Nashville Better Business Bureau, The Rochelle Training and Rehabilitation Center, and
Franklin Road Academy.
About Mike Kraski:
Kraski began his career in sales and distribution at CBS Records and eventually made his way to Sony
Music Nashville. In his 28 years he was given the opportunity to oversee sales, marketing, artist development, publicity, creative services and was eventually elevated to executive VP and general manager for the Nashville division. In his time at Sony, he worked with Dixie Chicks, Dolly Parton, Johnny Cash, Tammy Wynette, Patty Loveless, Mary Chapin Carpenter,
Montgomery Gentry and
Travis Tritt among many others. In 2003,
Kraski left Sony and launched an artist friendly label that was aptly named Equity Records. As President and CEO, he launched the career of
Little Big Town. Their debut Equity release sold over 1.5 million units and was Billboard Magazine's number one Independent Album of the Year. Since 2007, Mike has worked in artist management, consulting and music publishing at Tenacity Management and at M-Pact
Music Group. Mike has served for 20 years as a member of the Academy of Country Music's board of directors. He has also served on the Nashville board of the TJ Martell Foundation and is currently on the advisory board of Sensu
Music LLC.
