LOS ANGELES — Country music star Zach Bryan has secured two massive deals worth $350 million, extending his relationship with Warner Records and selling his publishing catalog, sources told Variety.
Bryan’s team finalized his deal with Warner on Sunday night, securing at least two more albums with the label. Despite Bryan hinting in January that his next album would be his “final major label album,” Warner fought off competition from Universal to retain the artist.
In addition, Bryan has reportedly sold or is in the process of selling his publishing catalog to a new entity, possibly named the Merrit Group. The group is led by Cameron Strang, former CEO of Warner Bros. Records and Warner Chappell Music. Strang, who has kept a low profile since leaving Warner Chappell in 2017, was behind the creation of indie label New West and publishing company Southside Independent Publishing.
Details about the deal and Merrit Group’s involvement remain unclear. Gary Gersh, former AEG Presents and Geffen Records executive, is also said to be a partner in the new entity.
Bryan, a rising superstar, has been Warner Records’ top performer since the success of his 2022 album American Heartbreak. Since his 2021 signing with Warner and his Belting Bronco label, Bryan has achieved stadium-level success, with hits like “Something in the Orange” and “I Remember Everything,” a duet with Kacey Musgraves.
This summer, Bryan will headline the Hyde Park BST festival in London and perform at Michigan Stadium, which holds 107,000 people.
Bryan also teased an upcoming film, Motorbreath, in a social media post. The project, which will feature actor Matthew McConaughey, is described as a documentary about Bryan and his friends recording his final Warner album on a cross-country motorcycle trip.
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