New label, Broken Oaks Records, sets up donation program for public radio

Broken Oak Records, a new record label focusing on americana music, is donating three dollars ($3) for every CD by Matt Burt bought at the Texamericana internet record store to listener-supported public radio stations. Texamericana is a non-profit internet record store that donates between $1 and $5 from every CD sold to a public radio station of the purchaser's choice. It was formed by a group of artists who have gotten together to give back to public radio, which has long supported independently-produced music and has been a major force in breaking new recording artists.
Texamericana was co-founded by Barbara Kooyman, who was nominated for a Grammy in 1986 with her band Timbuk3 for the song "The Future's So Bright I Gotta Wear Shades". The internet record store offers CDs from independent recording artists and some well known artists such as Willie Nelson and Michelle Shocked. Music directors from can use the Texamericana web site to find new artists and music to feature on their radio stations, providing a simple way for the music directors to find high-quality independent music. The site also gives music fans an easy way to find new music and helps the recording artists gain exposure to radio audiences and provides much-needed funding to public radio.
Matt Burt's self-titled debut album taps influences such as Neil Young, James McMurtry and Son Volt and is infused with Matt Burt's uncanny sense of storytelling. It features a collection of original songs penned by Burt that combine honest songwriting with a compelling cast of characters and infectious hooks. This Americana CD blends together alt. country, folk and roots rock.
"The tasteful use of pedal steel on "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" and reverb-soaked guitar on "I'll Always Be Here" are the type of touches which distinguish "this from run-of-the-mill indie-rock releases" - Kevin Stroud at Americana Homplace radio.
What defines Matt Burt's song craft and singing is his commitment to the honesty of the song, "I've shelved more than a few songs because, when it was over and done-they didn't really express any truth about the characters and just seemed kind of frivolous," said Matt Burt. Texamericana Internet Record Store www.texamericana.org