Van Preston : Making International Fame

Tens of thousands of singers and songwriters call Nashville home, but very few actually have what it takes to succeed in a big way. But one Nashville country act is proving that she does indeed have the right stuff, and is making an international name for herself without the benefit of a record deal of any kind.

Unsigned and unrepresented, singer/songwriter Van Preston has used hard work and the power of the Internet to distribute her music to the world, resulting in a strong fan base in Europe and even a significant amount of airplay on U.S. stations, an unheard-of feat for an artist who doesn't even have a record deal.

"I've gotten airplay in Houston, St. Louis, Raleigh, Des Moines and Rochester among others, some pretty major stations," Preston said. "It's almost impossible for an unsigned artist to get played on the radio."

In May of 2007 she was ranked the number four independent artist in Europe with airplay on some 800 radio stations. And while it doesn't always translate into sales, Preston was recently ranked as the number one unsigned female Americana artist in the world on MySpace.

Preston's self-titled debut album, produced by hit writer Greg Crowe (Montgomery Gentry's "Lonely and Gone"), has done something in Europe that should have the major Nashville labels beating a path to her door.

"My album was nominated as country music album of the year for 2007 by the European Country Association," she said. "It's not like our Country Music Association, of course, but it's still pretty amazing." Her songs "Toy" and "Tougher Than That" are the standouts from the album that have been getting the most airplay.

The valedictorian of her class in a small Arkansas town, Preston earned a marketing and management degree in Chicago before heading to Music City in 2004. She quickly learned the Nashville ropes, figuring out the politics of Music Row, then went in the other direction. Once she began working with Crowe, she began laying the groundwork to get her music into the hands of people who could help her build her own following.

Preston is being pitched to the labels right now, but she said she's in no hurry to get signed. "The longer I can make it on my own, and the more airplay I can get on my own and prove myself, the better."

Preston has played many prestigious events and venues on her climb to the top, including the Colgate Country Showdown, the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) show in Indianapolis, and CBGB's, the now-defunct rock club that set the standard for original music clubs in New York City. She leaves in January for a tour of Europe and Australia to meet the overseas fans who are helping propel her to stardom.

It won't be long before Van Preston will be coming to a stage or a radio near you, if she hasn't already. Keep and eye and an ear out for this young woman who is destined to be a household name in country circles. You can find out more about Van Preston online at:
www.vanpreston.com
www.myspace.com/vanpreston

Article Written & Submitted by Rick Moore