Country superstar Kenny Chesney has signed with Hey Now Records, an independent label launched by industry executives Clint Higham, John Esposito and Kris Lamb, as their flagship artist.
"Having the chance to create something from the ground up means the options are wide open," says Lamb, who helms day-to-day operations for the new label. "In a world where structure blocks creativity, HEY NOW is a place where whatever we can conceive, we can realize. This is more than a dream; this is a gateway to creating an entirely new form and reality of Artist Development."
Chesney, a recent Country Music Hall of Fame inductee, has sold over 30 million albums worldwide. He released his debut album, In My Wildest Dreams, in 1994, and has since released 19 follow-ups. His albums spawned 27 singles that have peaked within the top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100.
He has notched 105 million RIAA-certified units in the U.S. alone and holds Billboard's record for the most Country Airplay No. 1s with 33 chart-topping songs.
"When Clint, Espo and Kris came to me with the idea of creating our own team, I was curious," says Chesney. "A label like this can be all-in, lets-make-stuff-happen - and I have always been about making things happen. Creating and exploring what's possible inspires me, and this is a moment where we can realize ideas in a matter of hours."
"Hey Now Records was born out of conversations Clint, Kenny and I had about the increasing lack of focus that artists are getting as rosters increase while staffs shrink. When Kris joined our conversations, I knew we would be lucky to have him at the helm of our operation. I'm thrilled to be in the role of co-founder, advisor, mentor and cheerleader for Kris as he leads the Hey Now Records operation," said Esposito, ex-chairman and CEO of Warner Nashville.
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