Drake Bell is teaming up with Surfdog Records to release his first studio album in more than six years.
Bell, an actor-turned-musician best known for his role in Nickelodeon’s “Drake & Josh,” has already released two studio albums and a 2011 EP, “A Reminder.” His sophomore album, 2006’s “It’s Only Time,” debuted and peaked at No. 81 on the Billboard 200 with 178,000 sold to date according to Nielsen SoundScan.
In addition to the upcoming release, which is scheduled to drop early 2013, the new signing includes deals for merchandising, live performances and more, the company announced in a press release Thursday (Aug. 23).
Surfdog president Dave Kaplan said in a statement that Bell has “very focused musical ideas” and joining forces with the 26-year-old star was a “no-brainer.”
Added Bell, “I’ve known Dave and the people at Surfdog for a long time now and they are a great group of music-loving people. When it was time to begin the next phase of my music career, I knew that’s where I wanted to be.”
His first album, “Telegraph” was an independent release, and the follow up was put out on Universal Motown just a year later.