Skip Bishop, a former executive at a number of labels and boutique promotion companies and who most recently served as senior vice president of promotion at Sony Music Nashville, announced via a press conference on Sirius XM today the launch of his new label, HitShop Records.

The label’s inaugural roster includes young country artist Weston Burt and pop funk act Gimm+Icky, and will be distributed by Warner Music Nashville. HitShop is a subsidiary of Ramblin’ Music Group, led by president Cliff Downs, which also houses both Ramblin’ Records and Young Guns Publishing, the company that oversees publishing for both of HitShop’s debut artists as well as Kimberly Page and Cassidy Ford, among others.

Bishop named Diane Monk-Harrison (Arista Nashville, Columbia and MCA Records) to be the label’s VP promotion. The radio promotion staff will include East Cost Director Rick Baumgartner, West Coast Director Kelly Symone and Director, Secondary Promotion and National Promotions Coordinator Will Hamrick. A&R will be led by Downs alongside VP, A&R Micah Wilshire. Tim Gerst was named National Director, Digital Marketing.

“Skip is one of the most savvy and creative executives in Nashville. His track record for breaking hit records is what excited us to be in business with him and his team,” said John Esposito, President, Warner Music Nashville. “We’re pleased to be providing this impressive new label with distribution services and to be working closely with this team.”  [Billboard.biz]