Foremost Records

Chris Dodson is widely recognized as one of the major players in the country music industry over the last five decades. He was the #1 SongPlugger for the world’s largest Country Music Publisher and headed up their Pop Department. He also worked for them as a staff Producer and SongWriter. As a SongWriter, he has had recordings on Jerry Lee Lewis, The Grascals, T.G. Sheppard, and The Osborne Brothers, Sonny Throckmorton, Angela Kaset, and Rayburn Anthony. He has also emerged as one of the leading talent scouts, artist developers, and record deal makers in country music. He is a licensed attorney and a 1976 graduate of Vanderbilt Law School. After Tree, he was a Professional Manager and Head SongPlugger for Old Friends Music, leading them to be ranked #6 country publisher in the nation. In addition to legal and business consulting, he wrote songs and engineered and produced demos for the company, and for legendary producer/executive Don Gant. In 1985, he opened Makin’ Music LLC, a full service music publishing and creative services company with worldwide representation and publisher of an impressive bundle of Major Hit Songs. Makin’ Music is the leading independent songplugging and creative services company in country music. The company represents numerous Songwriter of the Year and Song of the Year award winners, including 5 times SongWriter of the Year - Sonny Throckmorton. Dodson and his exceptional staff of songpluggers have delivered more than 150 Top Ten Records for their clients. Makin’ Music has made 14 Major Label Record Deals and managed 14 Artists for the Major Labels. Throughout his career, Chris and his team have been directly involved with the Artist Development & Marketing for FLORIDA GEORGIA LINE, JASON ALDEAN, FAITH HILL, TIM McGRAW, TOBY KEITH, GARTH BROOKS, LEE ANN RIMES, BILLY RAY CYRUS, MERLE HAGGARD, WILLIE NELSON, KEITH WHITLEY, TERRI CLARKE and many many more. Dodson and his team have also produced for all of the Major Labels on successful Projects with Faith Hill, Merle Haggard, Billy Ray Cyrus, Keith Whitley, Terri Clarke, B J Thomas, Sam & Dave, the Grassroots, Lou Christi, Mary Wells and many many more. As part of its Artist Development operations Chris Dodson serves as the President and General Manager of FOREMOST RECORDS featuring complete national Marketing and Promotion teams and WorldWide distribution. Makin’s successes in the world of SongPlugging have resulted in the #1 Independent SongPlugging service in Nashville for the past 35 years – MAKIN MUSIC SONGPLUGGING. Our team of 5 SongPluggers have delivered 150 Top 10 records for our clients winning dozens of ASCAP, BMI, CMA, ACM Awards and Grammys. Our access to the very best songs in Nashville is Legendary! MM’s Catalog Brokerage Service has been involved in many large Music Catalog Sales and Acquisitions and Buying Power has now exceeded $3 Billion. Chris Dodson began in the Nashville music business in 1966 as a part-time employee for Starday Records. Throughout high school, college, law school, and his early years as a SongPlugger and SongWriter, he worked as a bandleader and entertainer. As a Producer and Engineer, he has worked with many hit Artists and Major Hits. Dodson is listed in WHO’S WHO IN ENTERTAINMENT, and is a member of the Nashville Songwriter’s Association, the Country Music Association, the Nashville Entertainment Association and NARAS. He is also an accomplished actor in more than 100 commercials and films. He was a principal actor in the film “Civil Brand” which won a New York Critic’s Award and two film festivals. He has appeared on “OPRAH” and numerous national commercials as an actor.

Nashville, TN