Billy Ray Cyrus Inks Partnership With EMPIRE Publishing [Exclusive]

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Pictured (L-R): Scott Adkins (Adkins Entertainment), Eric Hurt (EMPIRE), Vinny Kumar (EMPIRE), Billy Ray Cyrus, Al “Butta” McLean (EMPIRE), Jack Johns (EMPIRE) and Derrek Kupish (Adkins Entertainment). Photo: Adkins Entertainment

Two-time Grammy winner Billy Ray Cyrus has entered into a partnership with EMPIRE Publishing, the publishing arm of independent record label EMPIRE.

“EMPIRE is a record company that harnesses the power, beauty and healing element of music–made and shared for the pure love of it and honestly believes music changes everything,” says Cyrus of the deal.

The company’s label roster currently boasts breakout country star Shaboozey, who topped the Hot 100 for 15 weeks and holds the Canadian Hot 100 record at 22 weeks with “A Bar Song (Tipsy).” EMPIRE Publishing also boasts multi-genre producers James Maddocks and Yung Lan, who collaborated on Morgan Wallen’s chart-topping album One Thing At a Time and earned a No. 1 at country radio for “Cowgirls.”

The publishing arm is led by industry veterans Al Mclean and Vinny Kumar. EMPIRE Publishing A&R, Eric Hurt, helped secure the deal.

“We’re excited to welcome Billy Ray Cyrus to the EMPIRE Publishing family,” says Kumar, SVP, Global Head of Business. “Billy Ray’s legacy in music is legendary and his influence spans generations and genres. Partnering with an artist of his caliber reflects our commitment to bringing timeless talent and new, exciting works to audiences worldwide. We look forward to supporting his creative vision and collaborating with him on future projects.”

“Billy Ray Cyrus’ legacy has had a global impact on music and culture,” says McLean, SVP, Global Head of Music, EMPIRE Publishing. “He has seamlessly and successfully blended genres and taken listeners into new sonic landscapes. We couldn’t be more excited to welcome him to EMPIRE and represent his publishing on a global level.”

Cyrus exploded onto the music scene with Some Gave All, with its title track that debuted on the all-genre Billboard 200 album chart at No. 1 and stayed there for a record-breaking 17 weeks in 1992. The lead single off Some Gave All, “Achy Breaky Heart,” became a phenomenon and went multi-Platinum. Cyrus knocked himself out of the top Billboard position with his second No. 1 album, It Won’t Be The Last, featuring smash hits “In the Heart of a Woman,” “Words By Heart” and “Somebody New.”

In recent years, Cyrus has celebrated monumental success as a co-writer and featured artist on the Diamond-certified song “Old Town Road,” which still reigns as the longest Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 record for 19 consecutive weeks.

“Billy Ray Cyrus has always said that he’s a singer-songwriter from Flatwoods, Kentucky, but the truth is he’s an international icon who’s written the most influential songs over the last three decades,” says Hurt, VP A&R, EMPIRE Publishing. “He’s only scratched the surface and we’re thrilled to be partners with him.”

Cryus will release a new single, “Remember Why You’re Here,” on Nov. 22, which he co-wrote with James Slater.

LB Cantrell
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