Ontario singer waiting for that call from Taylor Swift

Ryan Laird, the country singer from Ontario who took out a billboard asking superstar Taylor Swift to produce his album, is getting closer to meeting his idol.

Last month Laird spent his life savings on a billboard outside the window of Swift's Nashville record company with a picture of him holding a sign that says, "Hey Taylor I love your music, Would you produce my album?"

He has heard from the young country star's record label, asking for samples of his music. He's also heard indirectly from Swift herself, via YouTube.

In a video that appeared online, he learned that Swift has seen the billboard and checked out some of the songs on his MySpace page.

"She said she thought I would be huge and checked my MySpace page and loved the music and really wants to meet," Laird told CBC's Q cultural affairs show on Tuesday.

The date for that meeting has not yet been set, but Laird, 21, is hopeful the day will come soon after his return to Nashville this week.

The young singer from Bellwood, Ont., has found out in the past year how hard it is to get noticed in Nashville.

But his billboard did the trick. His story has been covered in media outlets throughout the U.S. and he has a tour of California and Texas radio stations coming up to promote his bid to be produced by Swift.

Laird said he thought he and the top-selling singer would have a "really cool collaboration."

"I saw a video on the internet of her producing — she co-produced her own album. It was a video of her working in the studio and she really knows what she's doing," he said.

Laird uses MySpace 'street teams'

While a billboard kicked it off, MySpace and YouTube have played a big role in promoting Laird's campaign.

Laird has MySpace "street teams" in every state sending messages to Swift, who had a hit last year with her album Fearless and singles Love Story and Teardrops on My Guitar.

He spent a lot of time cultivating Swift's fans and said many of them have become his fans.

Swift has Laird's music now and he's keen to meet and talk to her about where that might go.

He is optimistic about his chances.

"I'm still young and have a couple years to conquer this crazy business," he said. "If it doesn't work, maybe some people would laugh at me, but you have to take risks."