Big Loud Records

Big Loud Records
Name	Big Loud Records
Genre	Country
Founded	2015
Founders	Joey Moi; Craig Wiseman; Seth England; Big Loud Capital
Country	United States
Location	Nashville, Tennessee

Big Loud Records is an American Nashville-based independent record label focused primarily on country music artists and songwriters. Founded in the mid-2010s by industry figures with backgrounds in production, publishing, and investment, the label quickly expanded through artist development, strategic partnerships, and a catalog of commercially successful singles and albums. Big Loud has intersected with major forces in contemporary country such as Florida Georgia Line, Jason Aldean, Morgan Wallen, and songwriter networks connected to ASCAP and BMI-affiliated writers.

History

Big Loud Records was established in 2015 by producer Joey Moi, songwriter and publisher Craig Wiseman, entrepreneur Seth England, and investment firm Big Loud Capital as part of a broader effort to create an integrated music company combining label, management, and publishing functions. Early in its formation the label drew attention through associations with hit-makers produced by Moi, including artists tied to Republic Records and Atlantic Records distribution channels. The imprint grew in Nashville's contemporary country scene alongside contemporaries such as Big Machine Records, Broken Bow Records, and Arista Nashville, leveraging relationships with writers and managers from the Nashville Songwriters Association International community. Expansion included signing emerging acts and acquiring catalog rights, while executives negotiated licensing arrangements with major distributors and digital platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube Music.

Artists and Roster

Big Loud's roster has featured a mix of established headliners, breakout stars, and development artists. Notable artists and collaborators who have appeared on the label or worked closely with its producers, writers, and management include Morgan Wallen, Chris Lane, Jimmie Allen, Hardy, Dallas Smith, and Ashley Cooke. Songwriters and producers affiliated with the label include Josh Hoge, Jordan Schmidt, Mark Holman, and Deric Ruttan, who maintain ties to publishing organizations such as SESAC and Sony/ATV Music Publishing. The label's network also intersects with managers and executives from Creative Artists Agency, WME, and Nashville-based management firms, allowing cross-collaboration with touring partners like Kane Brown and festival circuits including Stagecoach Festival and CMA Fest.

Releases and Discography

Big Loud's discography encompasses multi-platinum singles, full-length albums, EPs, and collaborative songwriting compilations that have charted on Billboard charts including Billboard 200 and Billboard Hot Country Songs. Breakthrough releases associated with the label include chart-topping singles by Morgan Wallen and radio hits for Chris Lane; these releases benefited from production by Joey Moi and songwriting contributions from writers who have penned hits for artists such as Luke Bryan, Kenny Chesney, and Florida Georgia Line. The label has also released a series of collaborative projects and promotional singles tied to touring initiatives with acts from Live Nation and AEG Presents. Catalog management strategies have included reissues and deluxe editions to capitalize on streaming-era consumption patterns popularized by artists across Columbia Records and Capitol Records Nashville.

Business Structure and Partnerships

Big Loud operates as an integrated music company combining label services, artist management, and publishing administered through affiliated entities and investment partners. Strategic partnerships have been formed with distribution and major-label partners for radio promotion and international release campaigns, mirroring joint-venture models used by Republic Records and Universal Music Group. The company has negotiated synchronization and licensing deals with film and television companies, placing songs in productions from networks like Netflix and ABC. Financial and private-equity relationships involving Big Loud Capital have supported roster growth, touring support, and catalog acquisitions, while collaborations with digital-marketing firms and playlist curators on Spotify and Apple Music have driven streaming performance.

Awards and Recognition

Artists and writers affiliated with Big Loud have received nominations and awards from major industry institutions including the Country Music Association, the Academy of Country Music, and Billboard Music Awards. Songwriters on the label's publishing rosters have been recognized by organizations such as ASCAP and BMI for performance honors. Several singles and albums tied to Big Loud releases have achieved RIAA certification levels—gold, platinum, and multi-platinum—and have placed prominently on year-end lists compiled by Billboard and trade publications like Rolling Stone and Taste of Country.

Controversies and Criticism

Big Loud and artists associated with the label have faced controversies reflecting broader debates in contemporary country music, including discussions about genre boundaries involving pop and hip-hop influences, and public scrutiny over artists' conduct that generated media attention in outlets such as The New York Times, CNN, and Fox News. Some critics in the Nashville press and independent commentaries published by Rolling Stone Country and Pitchfork have questioned major-label marketing tactics, streaming-era release strategies, and the role of private capital in Nashville's music ecosystem. These debates have prompted industry-wide conversations involving stakeholders from Country Music Association leadership, artist managers, and performing rights organizations.

Category:American record labels