Warner Music Nashville Signs Chris Janson

Pictured (L-R): Kevin Herring, SVP Promotion, Warner Music Nashville; Scott Hendricks, EVP A&R, WMN; Chris Janson; John Esposito, President & CEO WMN. Photo: Mary Catherine Rebrovick

Singer-songwriter Chris Janson has inked a recording contract with Warner Bros. Records through Warner Music Nashville. The Missouri native joins a label roster that includes artists Blake Shelton, Hunter Hayes, Brett Eldredge, Ashley Monroe, and more.

Janson recently notched a No. 1 on the iTunes country chart with his independent single “Buy Me A Boat,” after iHeartMedia radio talent Bobby Bones played the song on his morning show, which is aired on more than 80 radio stations. He has also partnered with CMT for the song’s music video.

The country singer-songwriter has opened for Florida Georgia Line, Merle Haggard, and Hank Williams, Jr. Janson co-wrote Tim McGraw’s single “Truck Yeah.”

“Artistry, passion and hard work are the driving force here at Warner Music Nashville and Chris Janson exemplifies those very qualities,” said WMN President and CEO John Esposito. “The guy played 16 hours a day at Tootsie’s for a year and he’s played the Opry almost a hundred times. Man, that’s dedication and playing for the love of the music. Our VP of A&R Cris Lacy has been championing and following his decade-long path in Nashville and we’re ecstatic to welcome such a unique talent to the WMN family.”

“I knew from the first meeting in Espo’s office with this team, that Warner Bros. is where I was going to be and I appreciated the passion and love that I felt from the building,” said Janson. “I couldn’t be any more excited, and genuinely thankful for the opportunity. I’m looking forward to a long career with Warner.”

iHeartMedia has now added Janson to its “On The Verge Artist” program. Through the program, “Buy Me A Boat” will air on 140 country radio stations for six weeks, beginning May 4. The program includes on-air exposure and significant digital and social support across iHeartMedia’s network.

“As soon as our country music programmers heard Chris Janson’s music, we knew he would be perfect for our ‘On The Verge Artist’ program,” said Clay Hunnicutt, Executive Vice President and General Manager of National Programming Platforms for iHeartMedia. “Discovering breakthrough artists like Janson and connecting them to new fans nationwide is what the ‘On The Verge Artist’ program is all about, and we know our country radio listeners will agree.”