Big Loud Records
Big Loud Records is a Nashville-based independent country music record label managing a roster of 40+ artists through Records, Publishing, Sync, and Capital Partners divisions, with global distribution via Universal Music Group.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2011
- HeadquartersNashville, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Big Loud Records does
Big Loud Records is a Nashville-based independent country music record label founded in 2011, operating a multi-division platform that includes the core Records arm, a Publishing division for song catalog and royalty administration, a Sync department for film/TV/advertising/video game licensing, and partnership vehicles branded Music Partners and Capital Partners. The label represents a roster of more than 40 artists spanning mainstream country, Americana, and Texas country, anchored by flagship signing Morgan Wallen alongside established acts HARDY, ERNEST, Lauren Alaina, Charles Wesley Godwin, and Stephen Wilson Jr., and a development tier that includes Dylan Gossett, Kashus Culpepper, Jake Worthington, and Hailey Benedict. Distribution runs globally through a partnership with Universal Music Group, with a complementary Universal Music Canada channel supporting cross-border releases such as Owen Riegling's April 2026 album "In The Feeling."
The company generates revenue through four streams: music streaming and digital downloads via UMG-distributed platforms, sync licensing fees, publishing royalties and mechanical rights, and artist signing/development deals where the label invests in recording, marketing, and touring in exchange for a share of sales and streaming revenue. Its two-sided customer base consists of country music listeners (end consumers across streaming, live events, and merchandise) and signed artists (the primary commercial counterparties receiving recording funding, marketing expertise, publishing administration, and tour support). Go-to-market is sales-led, anchored by traditional A&R outreach and label signings rather than direct-to-consumer acquisition.
Geographic footprint is concentrated in the United States, with the wholly-owned Big Loud Texas subsidiary acting as a regional vehicle for the Texas country sub-genre. Headcount sits in the 11–50 range, consistent with a capital-light independent label that outsources heavy distribution to UMG. Recent 2026 operating activity — including Kashus Culpepper's debut "Act I" and its "Act I: Summer Nights" follow-up, the Waylon Payne Big Loud Texas signing, and an active slate of single releases — demonstrates a sustained content pipeline and ongoing roster expansion across multiple sub-genres and geographies.
Big Loud Records firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Big Loud Records
- Legal name
- Big Loud Records
- Website
- https://bigloudrecords.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2011
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Big Loud Records is a Nashville-based independent country music record label managing a roster of 40+ artists through Records, Publishing, Sync, and Capital Partners divisions, with global distribution via Universal Music Group.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Big Loud Records industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Country Music Record Label
- NAICS
- Record Production and Distribution (51225), Music Publishers (512230)
- SIC
- Phonograph Records & Prerecorded Audio Tapes & Disks (3652)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Record Labels (Major & Independent) (MPAIAAAA)
Keywords
Where Big Loud Records is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Nashville
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Big Loud Records business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Music Streaming & Downloads: Revenue generated from streaming platforms (Spotify, Apple Music, etc.) and digital album/single sales through partnerships with major distributors like Universal Music Group.
- Sync Licensing: Music licensing for film, TV, advertising, and video games through their dedicated Sync department.
- Publishing Rights: Publishing division manages songwriter royalties and mechanical rights through their publishing arm.
- Talent Signing & Development: Artist signing deals where the label invests in recording, marketing, and touring in exchange for a share of revenue from sales and streaming.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels4 records
Big Loud Records product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Big Loud Records is a Nashville-based independent country music record label that signs, develops, and markets recording artists through its Records division while also offering music publishing administration, synchronization licensing, and capital partnerships. The label represents 40+ country artists, distributes music globally through Universal Music Group, and earns revenue from streaming royalties, sync licensing, publishing rights, and artist development deals.
Product overview
Big Loud Records is a Nashville-based country music record label operating as a multi-division platform comprising Records (core label with 40+ roster artists), Publishing (song catalog and royalty management), Sync (synchronization licensing), Music Partners (distribution partnerships), and Capital Partners (investment division). The label represents artists across the country music spectrum from established stars like Morgan Wallen to emerging acts, with recent expansion into the Big Loud Texas division.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Records The core record label division representing 40+ country music artists including Morgan Wallen, HARDY, ERNEST, Dylan Gossett, Lauren Alaina, and emerging talent. Manages artist recording, promotion, and distribution globally through Universal Music Group.
- Publishing Music publishing division handling song catalog management, synchronization licensing, and royalty collection for songwriters signed to Big Loud's publishing arm.
- Sync Synchronization licensing services enabling placement of Big Loud Records music in film, television, advertising, video games, and other visual media through a dedicated sync department.
- Capital Partners Investment and financial partnership division providing capital backing to support artist development and label growth initiatives for Big Loud Records and its roster.
Quantifiable outcome
- Artists have achieved No. 2 and No. 1 positions on major Billboard country charts
Companies that use Big Loud Records
Customer profileNamed customers9 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Big Loud Records technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Big Loud Records partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- Universal Music CanadacorePartnership with Universal Music Canada for the release of Owen Riegling's album 'In The Feeling', providing Canadian market distribution and promotion for international releases.
- Universal Music GroupcoreGlobal distribution partnership with Universal Music Group for releasing music through major streaming platforms and physical retail channels worldwide.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Big Loud Records competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- Dualtone Records: Dualtone Records (now part of New West Records) was an independent Americana/roots label that signed artists like The Lumineers. Comparable as an Americana-focused independent with overlap to Big Loud's Americana artists like Kashus Culpepper.
- Riser House Records: Riser House Records is an emerging Nashville-based independent country label focused on developing artists like Koe Wetzel-adjacent talent. Comparable as a smaller, growth-stage independent country competitor pursuing the same artist development lane as Big Loud Texas.
Direct peers
- Big Machine Records: Big Machine Label Group is one of the largest independent country music labels in the U.S., home to Tim McGraw, Florida Georgia Line (historically), and formerly Taylor Swift. Directly comparable to Big Loud as a major independent Nashville-based country label competing for the same artist signings and chart positions.
- Carnival Music: Carnival Music is a leading Nashville music publishing company representing songwriters like Luke Laird and Barry Dean. Directly comparable to Big Loud's Publishing division as a Nashville-based independent publisher competing for the same songwriting talent.
- Sea Gayle Music: Sea Gayle Music is a Nashville music publishing and artist development company closely associated with Brad Paisley and the Nashville songwriting community. Comparable to Big Loud's Publishing division as an independent Nashville publisher administering songwriter catalogs and sync rights.
- Broken Bow Records: Broken Bow Records, part of BBR Music Group under BMG, is a leading independent country label with artists like Jason Aldean and Lainey Wilson. Competes head-to-head with Big Loud for country A&R, distribution deals, and chart dominance in mainstream country.
- Curb Records: Curb Records is a long-standing independent Nashville country label with artists including Lee Brice and Tim McGraw. Closely comparable as a privately-held independent country competitor with multi-decade history and similar genre focus.
Broad incumbents
- Warner Music Nashville: Warner Music Nashville is the Nashville division of Warner Music Group, signing major country artists like Blake Shelton and Bailey Zimmerman. Comparable as a country label competitor with significantly larger parent-company resources and broader roster scale.
- Sony Music Nashville: Sony Music Nashville is the country division of Sony Music Entertainment, featuring artists like Luke Combs, Maren Morris, and Kane Brown. Direct competitor in country A&R with major-label backing and significantly larger capital base than Big Loud.
- MCA Nashville (UMG Nashville): UMG Nashville, including MCA Nashville, is the country arm of Universal Music Group and is both Big Loud's distribution partner and a competitor. Comparable in country music signings while possessing the global scale that Big Loud accesses via distribution agreement.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Big Loud Records social profiles
Digital presenceBig Loud Records financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Big Loud Records leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Big Loud Records subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Big Loud Records funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Big Loud Records M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Big Loud Records
What does Big Loud Records do?
Big Loud Records is a Nashville-based independent country music record label that signs, develops, and markets recording artists through its Records division while also offering music publishing administration, synchronization licensing, and capital partnerships. The label represents 40+ country artists, distributes music globally through Universal Music Group, and earns revenue from streaming royalties, sync licensing, publishing rights, and artist development deals.
Is Big Loud Records a public or private company?
Big Loud Records is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Big Loud Records founded?
Big Loud Records was founded in 2011. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Big Loud Records based?
Big Loud Records is headquartered in Nashville, United States, in the North America region.
How does Big Loud Records make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Music Streaming & Downloads are the primary driver. The others are sync Licensing, publishing Rights and talent Signing & Development.
Who are Big Loud Records's main competitors?
Emerging players on record are Dualtone Records and Riser House Records. Direct peers are Big Machine Records, Carnival Music, Sea Gayle Music, Broken Bow Records and Curb Records. Broad incumbents are Warner Music Nashville, Sony Music Nashville and MCA Nashville (UMG Nashville).
Does Big Loud Records have an API?
No public API is recorded for Big Loud Records.
What industry is Big Loud Records in?
Big Loud Records's product category is Country Music Record Label. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAIAAAA, Record Labels (Major & Independent). Its NAICS code is 51225 and its SIC code is 3652.