Hackers still chasing their dreams in music

By Staff
Melissa Cason
One year after being named winner of the television competition Nashville Star, Russellville High School graduate Angela Hacker has been released from her Warner Bros. contract and said she was disappointed in the deal offered by the contest.
Hacker said the record deal seems like a good package, but in reality, it was not.
She said her first record after winning Star was not promoted well at all and sat on the shelves due to lack of promotion.
"The other day I got a statement from the label showing me why I wasn't getting any money from the sales of my record," Hacker said.
She said her story is no different from many other artists who are exploited by record companies.
"They [record companies] have been doing this for a long time," Hacker said. "There are hundreds of artists just like me who got the same treatment."
Hacker said that she is thankful that Warner Bro. released her from her contract so she can explore other opportunities.
"I had a few months to rest and clear my head to see what I wanted to do next," she said. "I did a lot of praying."
Hacker said she has signed with Muscle Shoals-based Fame Records and expects to put out a record with them soon.
"It's a smaller company who wants to do the right thing for their artists," Hacker said. "Even though it's a smaller company, they did have an awesome distribution company for their music."
Hacker is enthusiastic about her deal with Fame, and looks forward to making a new record. In the meantime, she is busy playing all across the U.S.
"I don't care if I ever make it really big," Hacker said. "As long as I can pay the bills and take care of my family through my music. That's what it's all about."
Meanwhile, her brother, Zac, is busy getting ready to release his first single to country radio this summer.
"We hope that it will be out sometime this summer, but we don't have a date yet," he said.
Instead of hunting for a big record deal, Zac opted to get an investor to back his music career.
"With music downloads and the Internet, you don't need a big record deal to make music anymore," Zac said. "All you really need is promotions and a record."
Zac is now being promoted through a company out of Nashville, and is excited about upcoming events.
"I get to open for Montgomery Gentry in Las Vegas in May," Zac said. "I am really excited about that."
As for where the future will lead them, neither of the Hackers really know, but they are both excited about being able to make a living at doing something they love.