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Blake Shelton Re-Ups With Warner Music Nashville: Exclusive
Blake Shelton, who logs his 25th No. 1 on Billboard’s Country Airplay chart this week with “I’ll Name The Dogs,” has signed a new, long-term deal with Warner Bros./Warner Music Nashville.
While the terms of the pact, signed Dec. 20, were not disclosed, Warner Music Nashville chairman/CEO John Esposito tells Billboard, “He re-signed with us to basically end his career here. That’s a long time.”
The 17-year partnership has already yielded 10 Gold and Platinum-selling albums, seven Grammy nominations and five CMA male vocalist of the year awards. Additionally, The Voice coach leads Billboard’s Top Country Airplay Artists chart for 2017.
“I remember my first trip to Nashville in 1994,” said Shelton in a statement. “I drove down Music Row and don’t know why, but when I passed the Warner Bros. building I said, ‘That’s the label I want to be on!’ Now, all these years later, I’m proud to have spent my entire recording career with such a great company. I look forward to more incredible years with my Warner family.”
Shelton’s current album, Texoma Shore, released Nov. 3, is the country superstar’s sixth set to debut at No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart.
Shelton last re-upped with the label eight years ago and since then has watched his popularity soar. “He’s the ambassador for country music,” Esposito says. “Literally 12-million-to-13 million people every Monday and Tuesday are watching this guy represent our format” on The Voice. “The fact that he believes in us; that’s a big story that he wants to continue [our] partnership for many more albums.”
Esposito further said in a statement, “Blake Shelton is a cornerstone artist for Warner Music Nashville. Blake, [manager] Narvel Blackstock and the whole label team put a stake in the ground years ago to prove that Blake was going to do unprecedented things in this business and be the artist to help us bring Warner back to greatness. Blake, indeed, has and will continue to break new ground. I am thrilled beyond words, and there is no better Christmas present than Blake committing to Warner for many years to come.”