<p>Scott Borchetta, the president and CEO for <a href="http://www.bigmachinerecords.com/site.php" title="Big Machine Records">Big Machine Records</a>, is launching a second imprint, the <a href="http://www.thevalorymusicco.com/" title="Valory Music Company">Valory Music Company</a>, and has signed <a href="http://www.jeweljk.com/" title="Jewel ">Jewel</a> to a multi-album deal, <a href="http://www.billboard.com" title="Billboard"><em>billboard.com</em> </a>reports.<img src="http://img.gactv.com/GAC/2006/09/28/Jewel_d.jpg" title="Random Review Crew - Jewel - Courtesy of GACTV.com" alt="Random Review Crew - Jewel - Courtesy of GACTV.com" align="left" height="177" hspace="6" vspace="6" width="140" />&#8220;She&#8217;s just one of the best singer/songwriters in any genre,&#8221; Scott says, adding that a move to country is &#8220;a natural progression for her.&#8221;</p>
<p>The label&#8217;s name is a variation on <a href="http://www.junecartercash.com/" title="June Carter Cash">June Carter Cash</a>&#8216;s birth name, Valerie June Carter. According to Scott, the name means &#8220;fierce; the brave one; of valor.&#8221;</p>
<p>Along with <a href="http://www.jeweljk.com/" title="Jewel ">Jewel</a>, whose album was produced by <a href="http://www.bigandrich.com/" title="Big &; Rich">Big &; Rich</a>&#8216;s John Rich and is expected in the spring, Valory will be home to <a href="http://www.myspace.com/icouldkickyourass" title="Justin Moore">Justin Moore</a> and <a href="http://www.jimmywayne.com/" title="Jimmy Wayne">Jimmy Wayne</a>. Justin has been in development, and Jimmy moves over from the Big Machine roster, which includes <a href="http://taylorswift.com/" title="Taylor Swift">Taylor Swift</a>, <a href="http://www.trishayearwood.com/" title="Trisha Yearwood">Trisha Yearwood</a> and <a href="http://www.jackingram.net/" title="Jack Ingram">Jack Ingram</a>, among others. It also handles promotion for <a href="http://www.countrymusicnewsblog.com/garth-brooks/" title="Garth Brooks">Garth Brooks</a>.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.jeweljk.com/" title="Jewel ">Jewel</a>, who has cut five of her six albums in Nashville, says country has always been in her plans. &#8220;I&#8217;ve been wanting to do this record my whole career,&#8221; she says, &#8220;but my label was always scared of country music. I&#8217;ve always had country songs on my records. If I had been discovered now, living in my car in San Diego, I think I would have been signed as a country act.&#8221;</p>
<p>Earlier this year <a href="http://www.jeweljk.com/" title="Jewel ">Jewel</a> hosted the country reality show <a href="http://www.usanetwork.com/series/nashvillestar/" title="Nashville Star"><em>Nashville Star</em></a> and she has made a number of appearances at <a href="http://www.muzikmafia.com/" title="Muzik Mafia">Muzik Mafia </a>events. She co-wrote and dueted with new artist <a href="http://www.jasonmichaelcarroll.com/site.php" title="Jason Michael Carroll">Jason Michael Carroll</a> on &#8220;No Good In Goodbye,&#8221; which appears on his debut album, <em>Waitin&#8217; in the Country</em>. She will be a presenter on the <a href="http://www.cmaawards.com/" title="CMA Awards">Country Music Association Awards </a>show on Wednesday.</p>
<p>~Courtesy of <a href="http://gactv.com" title="Random Review Crew - GACTV.Com">GACTV.com</a>Country Music Photo Gallery</p>