Country superstar Kenny Chesney has signed with Warner Music Nashville, leaving his longtime home of Sony Music Nashville.
“It is a big deal to change labels,” Chesney said in a statement, crediting Warner Music Nashville chairman/CEO John “Espo” Esposito, Warner Music Nashville senior VP A&R Cris Lacy and new Warner Music Group CEO, Recorded Music, Max Lousada, with shepherding the move. “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," he explained. "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.”
Following the release of his 1994 debut album on Capricorn, Chesney switched to RCA Nashville’s BNA imprint for 1995’s All I Need To Know. After RCA and Sony merged, he moved over to Sony’s Columbia Nashville via his Blue Chair imprint. Future releases will now be on Blue Chair Records/Warner Bros. Records.