A number of country artists have signed new record deals with independent record labels. David Ball's Heartaches by the Number will be released on Shanachie Records on March 20 and will include a mix of original and cover songs. Shanachie has similar albums planned for Daryle Singletary on Feb. 27 and Confederate Railroad in April. In related news, Brad Cotter is the first artist to sign with Adobe Road Records, a new Nashville label founded by Gary Cotton. An album is expected in the spring.