Chris Young Announces New Label Home, Teases ‘So Much New Music’
After a nearly a two decade run at Sony, Young has signed with Black River Entertainment.
Chris Young; Photo by John Shearer
Chris Young is embarking an on an exciting new chapter of his career with the announcement of a new label home and new music on the way.
The multi-platinum star revealed the news to fans on Wednesday (Dec. 4), admitting he was “thrilled to begin a new chapter with Black River Entertainment.”
In a video taken inside the exact studio where he recorded his massive hit “I’m Comin’ Over,” Young recorded a video messaging explaining how he landed at his new label.
“I couldn’t be more excited to tell you guys that I had a great 19 year run with the Sony team, but I sort of got to be a free agent for the first time and I’ve been shown so much love from the place that I just signed, that I just signed the paperwork. The ink is not even dry and I couldn’t be happier to tell you guys…I’m going to be an artist on Black River Entertainment and I’m just really excited for this next chapter,” he said.
He revealed plans to share “so much new music” and promised that it will be released “really soon.”
This marks a significant change for Young, who seems to have quietly departed RCA Nashville, the label that has been his home since the very beginning of his career.
In an official statement, Young, 39, shared: “I’m so excited to announce my new partnership with Black River Entertainment! RCA Nashville was an amazing home for me since 2006 when Joe Galante signed me to work with the Sony team, but it is time for my next chapter. I couldn’t be more excited about the new music that’s on the way or my new home. Black River is an amazing company, and they have truly impressed upon me how much they believe in me and my future. I can’t wait to continue to add to my legacy with them as a Black River Entertainment artist.”
Black River’s President and CEO Gordon S. Kerr added, “This is a historic day for Black River. With 14 No.1s under his belt, Chris has made an undeniable impression on Country music. His songwriting and vocal excellence make him a leader in the genre, and I can’t wait to see all we can accomplish together on this impressive journey.”
The Grand Ole Opry member joins Black River Entertainment with a long list of accomplishments under his belt, including nine studio albums, over nine billion global streams, 14 career No. 1 singles, 25 R.I.A.A. certified projects and numerous ACM, AMA, CMA and GRAMMY nominations, as well as wins for “Performance of the Year” and “Collaborative Video of the Year” at the CMT Music Awards.
Black River Records’ roster of artists also includes Kelsea Ballerini, MaRynn Taylor, Scotty Hasting, and Pryor Baird.
Lauren Jo Black, a University of Central Florida graduate, has immersed herself in the world of country music for over 15 years. In 2008, she co-founded CountryMusicIsLove, eventually selling it to a major record label in 2015. Following the rebranding of the website to Sounds Like Nashville, Black served as Editor-in-Chief for two and a half years. Currently, she assumes the role of Editor-in-Chief at Country Now and oversees Country Now’s content and digital footprint. Her extensive experience also encompasses her previous role as a Country Music Expert Writer for Answers.com and her work being featured on Forbes.com. She’s been spotlighted among Country Aircheck’s Women of Influence and received the 2012 Rising Star Award from the University of Central Florida. Black also spent time in front of the camera as host of Country Now Live, which brought live music directly to fans in 2021 when the majority of concerts were halted due to the pandemic. During this time, she hosted 24 weeks of live concerts via Country Now Live on Twitch with special guests such as Lady A, Dierks Bentley, Jordan Davis, Brett Young, and Jon Pardi. Over the course of her career, she has had the privilege of conducting interviews with some of the industry’s most prominent stars, including Reba McEntire, Blake Shelton, Luke Combs, Carrie Underwood, Luke Bryan, Miranda Lambert, Lainey Wilson, and many others. Lauren Jo Black is a longtime member of the Country Music Association and the Academy of Country Music.
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