Disney Music Group (DMG) made the surprise announcement today that it is closing operations at its Nashville-based label, Lyric Street Records, which was in its 13th year of operation. The closure will be phased, with most of the label’s promotion team kept in place for the time being to continue to market and promote the label’s current records.

To clarify that point, Lyric Street VP of national promotion Kevin Herring posted a message on his Facebook page today, managing to work in a plug for all of his current records. “Friends, Lyric Street’s closing is also a new beginning,” he wrote. “Our promotion staff, including myself, is still in place and employed. We are just now part of our Burbank Hollywood Records operation. I am overwhelmed with the calls and concerns of well wishers. Now, convert the Flatts, add Bucky, LNT, and #?*!” (The latter is a reference to the unusual title of the new Kevin Fowler single, also known as “Pound Sign.”)

April 16 will be the last day for eight other staffers, including label president Randy Goodman and senior VP of A&R Doug Howard, who also oversaw Disney Music Publishing’s Nashville operations. Two members of the label’s promotion team are also out, including senior director of national promotion Chris Palmer.

The label’s one superstar act, Rascal Flatts (pictured), will be transitioned to another DMG label in order to focus attention on the launch of its upcoming fall album. The other DMG labels are Hollywood Records and Walt Disney Records. Disney’s other Nashville, label Carolwood Records, was shuttered late last year after about a year of operation. The Carolwood artists were shifted back to Lyric Street at that time.

In addition to Rascal Flatts, Lyric Street’s current roster is: Love and Theft, Bucky Covington, Sarah Buxton, Fowler, Tyler Dickerson, and newcomers the Parks and Ruby Summer. Shedaisy and Trent Tomlinson had been dropped prior to the shutdown. Other former Lyric Street acts include Jessica Andrews, Aaron Tippin, Josh Gracin, Phil Stacey and Lari White.

“The Lyric Street team has had an amazing run, building a slate of well-known artists including the superstar act, Rascal Flatts,” said Bob Cavallo, Chairman of Disney Music Group, in a prepared statement. “But given the changing nature of the music business and the more streamlined priorities of the [Disney] Studios, we need to find alternative ways to create and market new artists and their music to consumers.”

In addition to Goodman and Howard, Friday will be the last day for the following staffers, listed with their contact info here:

• Kirk Boyer, senior director of A&R (615-417-1285 or boyer.kirk@gmail.com)
• Cindy Heath, director of publicity (615-429-2203 or cindyheath07@comcast.net)
• Ashley Heron, senior manager of marketing (615-828-7180 or ashleyheron@mac.com)
• Katie McCartney, sales and marketing coordinator (615-995-4614 or kamccartney@yahoo.com)
• Chris Palmer, senior director of national promotion (615-417-7486 or chris.palmer1@comcast.net)
• Jackie Schwarz, promotion coordinator (615-636-9989 or singjaxb@yahoo.com)