label signings
Megan Moroney Inks Deal With Sony Music Nashville/Columbia Records
Singer-songwriter Megan Moroney has inked a label deal with Sony Music Nashville and Columbia Records. During her opening performance slot for Warren Zeiders: The Up to No Good Tour on Wednesday evening (Nov. 16) at Nashville’s Brooklyn Bowl, Moroney announced her label signing, and also told the audience that her song “Tennessee Orange” will be sent to country radio. According to Moroney’s manager, Punch Bowl Entertainment’s Juli Griffith, Moroney and her team were in talks with 18 record labels before signing with Sony Music Nashville and the NYC-based Columbia. “We picked this combination because they understand exactly who Megan is and what she has already created,” Griffith tells Billboard. “Their plan is to come in and enhance what we are already doing under her creative vi...
Stefflon Don Inks New Global Recording Partnership With BMG
MOBO Award-winning artist Stefflon Don has entered into a global recording partnership with BMG, Billboard has learned exclusively. The Jamaica-via-London MC will release her debut studio album, Island 54, in 2023. Among the forthcoming album’s tracks will be “Clockwork” featuring dancehall superstar Spice. The single was produced by Grammy-winning Beam (Beyoncé, Justin Bieber, Pop Smoke), while its accompanying video counts five million views on YouTube. In a statement announcing her new partnership, Stefflon Don said, “I’m excited about partnering with BMG because they trust my creativity. They have an amazing support team across the globe, and I am super excited to expand my fan base alongside my new family BMG.” Tim Reid, BMG’s senior vp of repertoire & marketing, stated, “Ste...
Iggy Pop Signs With Atlantic & Andrew Watt’s Gold Tooth Records for Next Album Release
Punk icon Iggy Pop has signed with Atlantic Records, in partnership with producer Andrew Watt‘s Gold Tooth Records, for the release of his next album, the companies tell Billboard. “I’m the guy with no shirt who rocks,” said Pop in statement. “Andrew and Gold Tooth get that, and we made a record together the old-fashioned way. The players are guys I’ve known since they were kids and the music will beat the s— out of you. Have a great day.” The first release from Pop’s forthcoming album, debut single “Frenzy,” is slated to drop on Oct. 28. The album is Pop’s first since 2019’s Free, released by Caroline International/Loma Vista. “We’re incredibly excited to welcome Andrew and Gold Tooth into the Atlantic family,” said Atlantic Records chairman and CEO Craig Kallman. “As a brilliant producer...
Adam Lambert Returns to WMG With EastWest Records Deal
Singer-songwriter and Queen collaborator Adam Lambert has returned to the Warner Music fold, signing a global deal with EastWest Records ahead of new music. The American Idol runner-up’s first release under the deal, a cover of Noël Coward’s “Mad About The Boy” for a documentary about the witty playwright, arrives Friday (Oct. 7). According to the label, fans of Lambert can expect more music soon and a new album next year. Lambert’s first pairing with WMG — for flagship Warner Records — resulted in 2015’s The Original High, which peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 chart. That album, his third studio effort, followed a successful run at Sony Music’s RCA, where he scored a No. 1 album for 2012’s Trespassing and top-3 finish for his debut, 2009’s For Your Entertainment. The singer and LGBTQ...
The Deals: Channel Tres Signs With RCA; AmazeVR Raises $17M
Producer and signer Channel Tres signed with RCA Records in partnership with Godmode. The label, which just put out Tres’ new single “No Limit,” will release his album Real Cultural Shit this fall. The “Compton house” singer is currently touring North America. VR concert platform AmazeVR, which recently produced Megan Thee Stallion‘s VR concert tour, raised $17 million in new investments, with an opportunity for additional investors to join the current fundraising round. Including the $15 million bridge round the company raised in 2021, AmazeVR’s current Series B raise stands at $32 million. The company plans to use the new funds to expand partnerships with artists, artist management companies, labels, publishers and agencies, along with hiring more AI engineers, Unreal Engine engineers an...
Chris Janson Signs with Big Machine Label Group Records: Exclusive
Platinum-selling county artist Chris Janson has signed with BMLG Records in partnership with his own Harpeth 60 Records. Janson’s move to the Big Machine Label Group imprint follows his seven years with Warner Music Nashville. Janson had a run of hits songs between 2015 and 2019, including two Country Airplay No. 1s, “Good Vibes” and “Done,” as well as top five hits “Buy Me a Boat” and “Fix a Drink.” “Drunk Girl,” which reached No. 7 in 2017, received CMA Award nominations for song of the year and music video of the year in 2018. He also charted three studio albums, including 2015’s Buy Me a Boat, which peaked at No. 4 on Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart, 2017’s Everybody (No. 7) and 2019’s Real Friends (No. 12). All In, released earlier this ye...
Logic Signs With BMG After Def Jam Departure: ‘I’m Just Glad to Move On’
Logic has signed with BMG after exiting his previous deal with Def Jam, the Bertelsmann label announced Thursday (June 30). The first new music from the rapper-producer’s forthcoming studio album is expected soon. The international, multi-album partnership with BMG allows Logic to own his own sound recordings for the first time in his career. The move marks the artist’s first label switch since releasing his debut studio album, Under Pressure, via Def Jam in 2014. “There’s a lot of bulls— in the music industry,” Logic said in a statement. “I’m just glad to move on to a place where I can be independent and respected as an artist, and feel like I’m in control of my career.” Tim Reid, senior vp of repertoire and marketing at BMG, added, “As an artist, creator and entrepreneur, Logic is the pe...
UMG Launches Def Jam India Amid Hip-Hop Boom
MUMBAI —Universal Music Group, already home to some of the biggest names in Indian hip-hop, are further seizing on the popularity of the genre there by starting a new label division, Def Jam India. The new sub-label, to be based in Mumbai, will feature some popular commercial names and up-and-coming artists, but not necessarily household names like Badshah, with whom Universal is working to engineer a definitive crossover to international stardom. Def Jam India “will be infused and inspired by local street and rap culture, Indian sounds and unique multi-lingual flows,” said Devraj Sanyal, managing director and CEO, Universal Music India and South Asia. Def Jam India’s first artist signings are rappers Dino James and Fotty Seven. “Lost” from James and Fotty Seven’s “Banjo,” both of which ar...
Rita Ora Signs Record Deal With BMG
Rita Ora has struck a partnership with BMG to release her future recordings, the company announced Thursday (Feb. 3). Under the new deal, Ora will own all of her future master recordings. “I’m THRILLED to announce that I am partnering with BMG!!! I couldn’t be happier that they will be my label family moving forward,” Ora said on social media. “Their approach to artist ownership and control is very much aligned with mine, and it’s so empowering to know that I will own all my master recordings that I make from now on. I also feel so motivated to be working with such a dynamic, creative, forward-thinking global company.” Ora is one of the largest pop acts BMG has added to its roster and follows the $10 million global deal the company signed with 5 Seconds of Summer in October. Ora has charte...
The Deals: Round Hill Acquires Nancy Wilson Royalty Stake, Murda Beatz Signs With ADA
Round Hill Music acquired a significant share of Nancy Wilson‘s master royalties and has entered a long-term deal to administer her neighboring rights income. Though the exact share of the Heart singer, songwriter and guitarist’s master royalties remains undisclosed, Round Hill will own portions of classic Heart songs like “Barracuda,” “Magic Man,” “Alone,” “Crazy on You” and “These Dreams” — all of which were co-penned by Wilson. Trevor Bowen, chair of Round Hill Music, said of the deal, “We are very pleased to announce the acquisition of Nancy Wilson’s fantastic catalogue of classic Heart tracks from across her career including songs from her double and triple platinum selling albums. This important acquisition provides the Company with direct exposure to a timeless American rock band.” ...
