Kenny Chesney signs with Warner Music Nashville

Chesney is making a surprise move from Sony Music Nashville

Kenny Chesney is leaving his longtime label home of Sony Music Nashville to sign with Warner Music Nashville (WMN). His label, Blue Chair Records, is going with him.

“It is a big deal to change labels,” states Chesney in a press release. “But when you hear Max, Espo, and Cris Lacy talk about music, about what it means and does, when you hear that passion, you can’t help but get fired up. To me, music is only complete when it gets to the fans and becomes part of their lives. The people at Warner understand my commitment to that idea, and they’re just as committed to those ideals as I am.”

“Kenny Chesney embodies the relentless pursuit of artistic freedom and expression,” says WMN Chairman & CEO John Esposito. “An unapologetic free spirit, he has built a career on perseverance, drive, innovation, and most especially, great songs. Everything he does is inspired. It is with deep respect and honor that we welcome Kenny to Warner Music Nashville. We couldn’t be more excited to work with him and his team.”

Chesney has been with Sony Music Nashville for 23 years after releasing his debut album, In My Wildest Dreams, on Atlanta-based Capricorn Records in 1994. In 1995, Chesney released his first major label album, All I Need To Know, on Sony Music Nashville’s BNA imprint, where he released a dozen plus albums until the label closed in June 2012. It was then when Chesney moved to sister imprint, Columbia Records, where he also launched his own label, Blue Chair Records, as part of a multi-year deal.

Chesney’s last studio album for Sony Music Nashville was 2016’s Cosmic Hallelujah. Last year’s Live In No Shoes Nation double album was the final Chesney release under Sony. The 30 song project became Chesney’s eighth No. 1 Billboard 200 debut, as well as his fifteenth No. 1 Top Country Albums bow, when it was released last October.

No word on when a new project is due, as of press time.

In October 2017, Chesney announced the stadium portion of his 2018 Trip Around The Sun Tour. The 22 city trek kicks off April 21st at Tampa’s Raymond James Stadium with stops in Minneapolis, Atlanta, Kansas City, St. Louis, Chicago and more before wrapping with a pair of show’s at Boston’s Gillette Stadium on August 24th and 25th. More dates are expected to be announced with Thomas Rhett, Old Dominion and Brandon Lay on board as support.

Chesney will return to The Joint at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas on Friday, March 16th and Saturday, March 17th before embarking on the stadium run. As one of the few non-stadium dates on the tour, the Las Vegas shows will give attendees the opportunity to get up close and personal with the artist and fellow fans.

On November 1st, Chesney and songwriting pal David Lee Murphy released “Everything’s Gonna Be Alright” to country radio. The song will appear on Murphy’s No Zip Code album, co-produced by both artists and Buddy Cannon, set for release sometime this year via Reviver Records.

Buddy Iahn
Buddy Iahn

Buddy Iahn founded The Music Universe when he decided to juxtapose his love of web design and music. As a lifelong drummer, he decided to take a hiatus from playing music to report it. The website began as a fun project in 2013 to one of the top independent news sites. Email: info@themusicuniverse.com