NASHVILLE, TENN. – Big Loud Records and Mercury Records have named Wes Donehower Senior Vice President, A&R—as announced today by Big Loud Records Partner and CEO Seth England and Mercury Records Chairman and CEO Tyler Arnold.
This unique dual role originated from the successful strategic alliance between Big Loud Records and Mercury Records, who have worked closely together across artists like Big Loud’s Morgan Wallen, and as part of Big Loud Records’ wider distribution deal with Mercury Records.
Given Donehower’s impeccable track record for signing boundary-breaking talent, he will undoubtedly expand and enhance both respective label rosters as Senior Vice President, A&R.
“Wes has an exceptional track record of discovering and signing game-changing talent, and he’s firmly established himself as one of the industry’s top A&R executives,” Big Loud’s England shares. “I respect his work ethic, his creative instincts, and the impact he makes on the culture. We’re honored to welcome him into the Big Loud family through our partnership with Mercury.”
Mr. Arnold added, “Wes is an incredible A&R executive who has an innate ability to work across every genre. He has great instincts, but more impressively has a gift of building long lasting and genuine relationships with artists. We’ve shared a lot of great moments already, and I’m so excited to team up with Wes for many years to come.”
Mr. Donehower said, “Tyler and Seth have set a standard for our business with their dynamic and artist centric approach. It’s a privilege to work with both the Mercury and Big Loud teams. I’m looking forward to continuing to build new relationships in country music while fostering my longstanding partnerships across all genres.”
Most recently, Donehower served as Senior Vice President, A&R at Republic Records where he spearheaded the deal to bring Jelly Roll to the label in partnership with BMG and Broken Bow Records. He also led A&R for Republic on Jelly’s latest album Beautifully Broken, which bowed at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, boasted the RIAA Platinum-certified “I Am Not Okay” and garnered two No. 1’s at Country Radio. Prior, he worked in A&R at Columbia Records where he signed everyone from Lil Nas X and Russ to Koe Wetzel, and Quinn XCII.
ABOUT WES DONEHOWER
Throughout his career, Wes Donehower – who was recently named Senior Vice President of A&R at Mercury Records & Big Loud Records – has signed and developed a bevy of diverse and impactful artists. Following his graduation from University of Pennsylvania, the Baltimore, Md. native pursued a lifelong passion for music obtaining a Master’s Degree in Music Business at New York University. During that time, he parlayed an internship at Columbia Records into a full-time job, working his way through the ranks to Director of A&R. Throughout his stint at the label, he signed Lil Nas X contributing to his rise into a Diamond-certified GRAMMY® Award-winning superstar. Plus, he inked deals with multi-Platinum genre-busting stars, including Russ, Koe Wetzel, and Quinn XCII, among others. In 2021, Donehower joined the team at Republic Records as Senior Vice President, A&R where he spearheaded the deal to bring Jelly Roll to the label in partnership with BMG and Broken Bow Records. He also led A&R for Republic on Jelly’s latest album Beautifully Broken, which bowed at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, boasted the RIAA Platinum-certified “I Am Not Okay” and garnered two No. 1’s at Country Radio. 2024 saw Wes assume the dual role of Senior Vice President, A&R for Mercury Records and Big Loud Records, focusing on an array of upcoming projects. Along the way, he has been featured in publications such as Variety, Hits Daily Double, and more. He is based in New York, N.Y.
ABOUT BIG LOUD RECORDS
Big Loud Records’ head-turning success story began in 2015. Counting over 62 billion global audio streams, 30 No. 1 U.S. country airplay hits, 52 No. 1 country hits across international territories, three history-making Billboard Hot 100 all-genre No. 1s, over 100 RIAA certified titles, and more, the Big Loud Records roster is home to genre standouts Ashley Cooke, Chandler Walters, Charles Wesley Godwin, Cody Lohden, Dallas Smith, Dylan Gossett, ERNEST, Hailey Benedict, Hailey Whitters, HARDY, HIXTAPE, Ink, Jake Worthington, Kashus Culpepper, Lauren Alaina, Lauren Watkins, MacKenzie Porter, Morgan Wallen, Rhys Rutherford, Stephen Wilson Jr., The 502s, Thelma & James and Zandi Holup. Records was honored as the No. 1 Billboard Hot Country Songs label in 2021, 2022, 2023 + 2024, the 2022, 2023 + 2024 MusicRow Label Group of the Year and was named Platinum Label at the 2021 + 2023 CRS / Country Aircheck Awards. Learn more about Big Loud Records here, and connect with us on social media here.
ABOUT MERCURY RECORDS
Mercury Records, the famed label originally founded by Irving Green in 1945, relaunched in 2022. Home to the next vanguard of trailblazing artists and creative pioneers, the forward-thinking music company upholds a core commitment to artist development. The dynamic roster includes Post Malone, Noah Kahan, Zayn, Chelsea Cutler, Stephen Sanchez, James Bay, Lord Huron, AJR, and Jeremy Zucker as well as emerging talents Bryant Barnes, Dylan Gossett, Lyn Lapid, Dayglow, Foggieraw and Camylio. Mercury maintains strategic alliances with Nashville’s Big Loud Records (Morgan Wallen), Imperial Music (Bo Burnham), Soka Records (Cleffy, Starfall, and Crying City), Verve (Triada) and 2for2 projects (Jake Minch).
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