Reid ready to take on the world Modern Music

Reid ready to take on the world

Written by Tristan Arndell on July 13, 2011 – 7:49 pm

When Johnny Reid decided to leave Universal Music for EMI Music Worldwide, he knew he couldn’t move just to maintain the status quo.

For Reid to change labels, he needed assurances that new opportunities would be made available to him and that’s exactly what the EMI offer entailed. So in March 2010, Reid signed with EMI and set his sights on finding success in the United States and internationally.

With the new deal entering its second year, Reid is thrilled with the direction his career is taking.

“It’s been good, it’s been real good,” said Reid in a recent telephone interview from Toronto. “Obviously I was a wee bit anxious because I wasn’t exactly sure how it was all going to shake out – a brand new staff, a brand new company, a lot of big promises. (EMI Canada president) Deane Cameron and his staff have stepped up to the plate and kept all the promises that were made. It’s been real good.

“It’s been wonderful actually.”

Reid, who will be 37 on Aug. 21, is a bit of an anomaly when it comes to the Canadian music industry – album sales are always a challenge but he seems to have the Midas touch. Kicking Stones, which was released April 10, 2007, is approaching double platinum status for 160,000 units sold, as is Dance With Me, which was released on March 10, 2009.

Reid latest album, A Place Called Love, is on the verge of being certified triple platinum – an impressive achievement given it was only released on Aug. 31, 2010. Toss in Reid’s Christmas album, which hit stores on Nov. 10, 2009 and its triple platinum status and that gives him sales of 800,000 albums in the last four years.

The loyalty of his fanbase, nicknamed the Tartan Army, is extraordinary and although Reid isn’t 100 per cent, he thinks he’s got a pretty good idea of why his followers scoop up albums and concert tickets so religiously.

“I don’t know if I have the right answer but in my heart I feel it’s because I’ve taken the time to get to know people,” explained Reid. “I don’t mean just like the record executives and the demographics they talk about- for me it’s never been about that. It’s been about individuals, taking the time to actually sit down, meet somebody, talk with them and make sure you’re relatable to them. Just take the time.

“Life is short and I’ve always believed in taking the time for people, whether it be standing on stage in front of 10,000 people and explaining to them what a song means or sitting in a restaurant and taking the time to speak with people who approach and want to talk about my music. I believe that’s been the key to my success, being approachable at any time and also being relatable,”

Reid is convinced that EMI believes in his music and trusts that he knows the right direction to take with each passing album. The freedom to stay true to himself, regardless of genre, has allowed Reid to fashion an incredible career in Canada and now he’s ready to take a shot at the rest of the world.

He knows it will take a lot of hard work but he’s optimistic that with time, he will break into the world market.

“It’s not difficult, it’s just time consuming. It takes time,” said Reid. “I’ve basically spent 15 years in Canada touring coast to coast in a car, in a truck, in a van, in a bus. I mean I built up a lot of fans and it took me a long time to get where I find myself today. I believe it’s going to take a wee bit of time but I’m just one song away.

“That’s how close you are at any time in this game, you’re just one song away so I’m hoping to have some doors open up. I’ve signed a brand new management deal with a guy named Jim Murray who managed Dolly Parton, Michael Jackson, Neil Diamond, a lot of big world acts. This is a brand new management deal I’ve signed for the rest of the world and that’s something I’m really looking forward to. I’m looking forward to have somebody representing me on an international level.”

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