ABSTRACT
LeAnn Rimes debut narrative, like many impacting first records, can be framed within the album's label and personnel. Mike Curb, the label's founder and owner, was already a legendary hitmaker at the time of Rimes's debut. Following MGM's sale to the music conglomerate PolyGram Records, Curb founded Curb Records as a Curb/Warner Brothers imprint in 1974. Curb's production company soon morphed into an independent record label, and the company's headquarters were moved to Nashville, Tennessee in 1992. Many new artists currently recognized as country music superstars were releasing their debut and sophomore albums, and beginning their climb towards superstardom. With the additional manufacturing and distribution strength of Warner-Elektra-Atlantic branch distribution system behind the Curb label, the supporting infrastructure was securely in place to help artists to break through to the next level of commercial success. LeAnn Rimes's considerable talent was making waves among the radio programmers who came to see her perform in the MCG/Curb hospitality suite.
