ADDS WHOLLY INDEPENDENT OFFICES IN LONDON, U.K. + BRISBANE, AU.; BOLSTERS TORONTO, CAN. BASE
RECRUITS TERRITORY LABEL MANAGERS JOHNNO KEETELS (AU), CAYLEIGH SHEPHERD (U.K.), AND JUSTIN CLARK (CAN)
BILLBOARD SHARES THE NEWS EXCLUSIVELY TODAY – READ HERE
NASHVILLE, TENN. – Doubling down on its commitment to breaking country music globally, independent powerhouse Big Loud Records announces today the addition of offices and label managers in London, U.K. and Brisbane, Au., and bolsters its already established base in Toronto, Can. Recruiting industry aces Cayleigh Shepherd and Johnno Keetels as Label Managers in the U.K. and Australia respectively, the cutting-edge company also bolsters its Canadian team with the rise of Justin Clark to Manager, National Promotion / Associate Label Manager for the territory.
“We started in year one with our Canadian office, and it has been a long-term goal of ours to have direct Big Loud representation in both Australia and the U.K.,” shares CEO / Partner Seth England with Billboard, who exclusively broke the news this morning. “We waited for the best strategic time, but now makes the most sense with how we’ve grown as a company. We continue to keep an eye on other emerging markets as well.”
Read the full Billboard exclusive here.
Reporting to 2X CCMA Industry Person of the Year and SVP, Global Marketing & Strategy Brianne Deslippe, the three label managers bring invaluable experience and industry knowledge to their roles.
Brisbane local Keetels joins Big Loud following stops at Warner Music Australia and most recently a 10-year run at Universal Music Australia in the Media & Editorial department. London-based Shepherd transitions to Records from U.K.-based imprint Snakefarm Records, where she worked as a Marketing Manager for five years after a tenure with its parent company, Spinefarm Records, a subsidiary of Universal U.K. Clark started with Big Loud in 2020, contributing to and leading innovative promotion strategies on the international team and directly supporting Deslippe.
“There is so much growth potential in these markets, I feel like we’ve just scratched the surface,” Deslippe says. “For a long time, I was the only international team member having moved to Nashville from Canada, but I’ve always been made to feel like a valued member of the core team. I’m excited to pay this sentiment forward and invite some more unique and different voices to the table.”
“Getting these international pipes, if you will, set up now, has never been more important or timelier for us,” England adds. “This is the next logical step; be ready for the ones to come and stay prepared for the ones we have.”
The Big Loud roster has increased their investment in international touring significantly within the last two years, with standouts like Stephen Wilson Jr., Hailey Whitters, Lauren Alaina, MacKenzie Porter, Griffen Palmer, and more taking their talents to international audiences. Morgan Wallen, HARDY, and ERNEST toured a sold-out leg of Wallen’s record-setting One Night At A Time World Tour in Australia and New Zealand earlier this year, and Wallen will launch the Canadian leg of the tour tonight in Toronto. Wallen will finish out 2023 playing a sold-out night at London’s The O2 Arena this December with Big Loud troubadour Larry Fleet opening,marking Fleet’s first international performance.
So far in 2023, Big Loud Records has had the longest running No. 1 album of the year all-genre in the U.S. with Wallen’s One Thing At A Time topping the Billboard 200 chart for 15 non-consecutive weeks, as well as the longest running No. 1 single of the year all-genre with Wallen’s “Last Night” at 16 non-consecutive weeks atop the Billboard Hot 100. Across international markets, One Thing At A Time continues to impress, claiming 20 weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Canadian albums chart, No. 1 on Australia’s ARIA albums chart, and No. 1 on the New Zealand Top 40 albums chart. Wallen is the first male U.S. country singer to secure both the No. 1 ARIA single (“Last Night”) and No. 1 ARIA album spots in over 30 years, and was announced yesterday as a nominee for the 2023 CMA International Artist Achievement Award.
ABOUT BIG LOUD RECORDS
Big Loud Records’ head-turning success story began in 2015. Counting over 25 billion global audio streams, 18 No. 1 U.S. airplay and 26 No. 1 Canadian airplay hits, and 70+ RIAA certified titles, the Big Loud Records roster is home to genre standouts Morgan Wallen, Lauren Alaina, HARDY, ERNEST, MacKenzie Porter, Larry Fleet, Charles Wesley Godwin, Stephen Wilson Jr., Dallas Smith, Griffen Palmer, Shawn Austin, Lily Rose, Jake Worthington, Ashley Cooke, and Lauren Watkins. In 2019, the cutting-edge label partnered with award-winning songwriter Nicolle Galyon to form all-female label Songs & Daughters, signing critically acclaimed Iowa darling, Hailey Whitters. Records was honored as the No. 1 Billboard Hot Country Songs label in 2021 + 2022, the 2022 + 2023 MusicRow Label Group of the Year, and was named Platinum Labelat the 2021 + 2023 CRS/Country Aircheck Awards. Learn more about Big Loud Records here, and connect with us on social media here.
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Media Contact
Jess Anderson | Big Loud Records
