5 Country Stars Who Own Record Labels

Sometimes country singers aren’t content to simply release their own music – they want to find artists they love and help other singers make their dreams come true, too. When they find talented artists they believe in, many times the only option they have is to direct the singer to their label home. Then, it is up to the label head to sign the artist.

Kane Brown wanted to do more than provide referrals. It’s why he started his 1021 Entertainment and signed Restless Road. Other artists have gone down similar paths.

Here’s a look at five country music artists who started their own record labels.

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Miranda Lambert: Big Loud Texas

Miranda Lambert teamed up with her friend, frequent co-writer, and producer, Jon Randall, to form Big Loud Texas, her own record label imprinted under Big Loud Records.

She intends the imprint to spotlight artists from Lambert’s native Texas. Lambert and Randall will sign and develop new artists, but Randall serves as President of A&R at the imprint.  

At the time of the announcement, Lambert said in a statement: “As a teenager chasing my dreams in the honkytonks of Texas, Nashville seemed so far away. Every time I’m back home, I get to hear the incredible talent our state produces, and I feel a responsibility to help get more of those Texas voices heard. I’m really excited to team up with my buddy Jon Randall and Big Loud to do just that.”

Mitchell Tenpenny: Riser House Records

Mitchell Tenpenny co-founded Riser House Records alongside Riser House Entertainment founder Jennifer Johnson. Riser House Records roster includes Tenpenny, Dillon Carmichael, Meghan Patrick, Lanco, and more.

Jason Aldean: Night Train Records

Jason Aldean founded Night Train Records, an imprint at his longtime label home, BBR Music Group/BMG. Aldean met John Morgan through a couple of his band members and signed him to his imprint. The men just topped country radio charts with their song “Friends Like That,” which Morgan co-wrote and Aldean co-produced.

Morgan co-wrote Aldean’s Grammy-nominated Carrie Underwood collaboration “If I Didn’t Love You” and more than a dozen other songs Aldean has recorded.  

“The first time I heard about John Morgan was a 2 a.m. phone call with Aldean that lasted over 30 minutes as he told me why he wanted to sign him. He was so excited; he didn’t want to wait until the next day to discuss offering him a deal, said Jon Loba, head of BMG Nashville. “When we started working with John, it was easy to see why Jason picked up the phone and woke me up in the middle of the night… and I’m so glad he did!”

Kane Brown: 1021 Entertainment

Kane Brown teamed with his record label home, Sony Music Nashville, for his label imprint 1021 Entertainment. His first signing was country trio Restless Road.

Brown told Variety that having an imprint wasn’t always a priority but that it was born out of necessity this time.

“We just got to a point where I started finding artists online, and the only thing I could really do at the time was just refer them over to my label and hope that they get a record deal,” he said. “We knew that we had a platform, and I knew the people that I wanted to sign first. I started talking to my manager and found out that we could do it as a joint venture with Sony, and we just kind of went all-in at once.”

Chris Janson – Harpeth 60 Records

Chris Janson recently switched record label homes, moving from BMLG back to Warner Music Nashville. And when he did, he took his label imprint with him. Warner was home to Janson’s first three albums before he switched. Now he’s back, and he brought Harpeth 60 Records with him.
Harpeth 60 Record’s radio promotion staff includes Clay Hunnicutt as National with team members Ray Vaughn and Lauren (Longbine) Bartlett.

“This new chapter of my career is so exciting,” Janson said. “I am incredibly humbled and grateful for the new partnership with Warner. My Harpeth 60 imprint is second to none with a great promotion staff, headed up by Clay Hunnicut and flanked by Ray Vaughn and Lauren Bartlett. This is an awesome overall partnership, and this is a great team. I’m thankful to have them on my side.”

(Photo by Jason Mendez/Getty Images)