Warner Chappell Music has signed a global publishing deal with Morgan Wallen.
Honoured as Songwriter of the Year at the 2023 BMI Country Awards, Wallen penned US chart-topping hits including Chasin’ You, 7 Summers, You Proof and Thought You Should Know. He has also co-written for artists including Keith Urban, Jason Aldean, Corey Kent and Kane Brown, among others.
Wallen’s third studio album, One Thing At A Time, broke the 30-year record for most weeks on top of the US Top 200 chart for a country album. It was named Luminate’s Top Album of 2023 in the US.
As a part of this deal, Wallen will have the ability to sign songwriters in partnership with Warner Chappell.
Morgan Wallen said: “I look forward to working with Warner Chappell as my new music publishing partner and would like to thank them for also offering support in signing songwriters I believe in. In many ways, I feel like I've always been a songwriter first, and because of that, the publishing community is especially close to my heart. I'm honoured to use this partnership as an opportunity to give other songwriters a helping hand. Thanks to Ben, Phil, Jessi, and their great team.”
Ben Vaughn, president and CEO, Warner Chappell Music Nashville, said: “When you listen to the craftsmanship of songs that Morgan is writing, such as the modern-day classics 7 Summers and Thought You Should Know, and the impactful songs he's written for other artists like You Make It Easy [Jason Aldean] and Wild As Her [Corey Kent], you start to understand that the man from East Tennessee is quickly becoming one of the most important songwriters of this generation. Our entire Warner Chappell team is so proud of the opportunity to represent his songs.”
Jessi Vaughn Stevenson, senior director, A&R and digital, Warner Chappell Music Nashville, said: “Morgan's songwriting style has been original and distinct from the beginning and it is so exciting to get to work with someone who has seen massive commercial success built on authenticity.”
PHOTO CREDIT: Matt Paskert
