Megan Thee Stallion and Warner Music Group (WMG) signed a new agreement on Friday, Business Insider has learned.
The agreement “will enable the Houston native to maintain her independence as a musician while also having access to the music company’s robust global services, ranging from radio promotion to marketing worldwide,” according to the artist’s representative.
Megan’s rep further detailed the “innovative” deal in a release to Business Insider:
Through the unique structure of the agreement, Megan will have distribution and resources with Warner Music, while she has full ownership of her masters and publishing.
In this agreement, the three-time, Grammy-winning artist will release music through Hot Girl Productions — her independent music and entertainment entity — and simultaneously work with Warner Music and its international affiliates. Additionally, Megan has full creative control of her music releases along with the option to bring artists that are signed to her imprint into the WMG ecosystem.
The deal follows an October 2023 settlement between Megan and her former label, 1501 Certified Entertainment. The settlement ended a yearslong legal battle over what she called an “unconscionable” contract with the label, which she alleged prevented her from releasing new music and withheld royalties.
Following the settlement, Megan released two independent singles, “Cobra” and “Hiss,” the latter of which stands at No. 1 on Apple Music’s Global chart, Spotify’s US chart, and YouTube’s Trending Music chart a week after its release.
“This is the beginning of an exciting new chapter of my life and career,” Megan told Business Insider. “I’m really focused on building an empire and growing as an entrepreneur, so I’m proud to take this next step in my journey and work with Max Lousada and the entire Warner Music Group team in this new capacity. I know we’re going to create history together.”
WMG’s 300 Entertainment subsidiary previously distributed Megan’s music from 2018 until November last year. Jay-Z’s Roc Nation will continue to manage Megan following the new agreement with WMG.
“Meg is not just a superstar,” WMG Recorded Music CEO Max Lousada said. “She’s an artistic force and a mogul in the making — authentic and unapologetic in defining her own unique place in the cultural landscape. So many relate to her remarkable story and have witnessed her come into her power on her own terms. At Warner, we’re creating an environment where original talents can explore both their creativity and entrepreneurialism, while building long-term careers. Following on her success with 300, we’re excited to continue our journey with Meg through this dynamic new partnership, with our global teams, infrastructure, and expertise supporting her every step of the way.”
“Megan continues to be an absolute trailblazer,” Roc Nation CEO Desiree Perez said. “This new chapter with Warner Music Group will shift the landscape in the music industry and empower other independent artists to follow in her footsteps and claim their power. It’s also a testament to Max’s ability to reimagine the relationships that major music companies can engage in with independent artists.”
