Cody Johnson Insists His Major Label Deal Won’t Change Him
Fans of Texas country are used to witnessing their favorite artists and bands get signed to a big Nashville record label, only to come back a few years later with their tail between their legs. That’s why the announcement of a major label deal isn’t always welcome news. It often sets eyes to rolling in Texas. That’s what happened for some Cody Johnson fans when it was announced he’d partnered his own label CoJo Music with Warner Music Nashville, making him a major label artist for the first time in his career.
But Cody Johnson insists this isn’t your average Music Row deal. As a 50/50 partnership, he still gets to keep creative control of his music, and still gets to be Cody Johnson. Because unlike a lot of major label new signees, he comes to the table with a built-in fan base.
When Johnson released his first single under the new label partnership called “On My Way To You,” that was all the assurance most fans needed to know Cody Johnson wasn’t changing. Even if you didn’t love the song, it still sounded like Cody. In a recent interview with Music Row Magazine, Cody explained the new major label partnership even further for those fans who may be leery.
“When you come to this town from Texas, I guess everyone has a preconceived notion that you are going to sell out,” Cody Johnson said. “One of my main focuses with this whole deal is to prove that you can be yourself. The record was done before we got a deal. As soon as we released it, people were like ‘I can already hear the change.’ But this song is to those people and to all those people who said it wouldn’t work. My goal in this whole thing is to step politely into this town and say, ‘Hey, is there room for me here?’ A lot of things I’m doing are very normal for country in 1985 but now it’s different and it’s a new thing now to be country.”
Owning a #2 and a #7 record on the Billboard Country Albums chart, as well as a strong fan base in Texas that sold out an appearance at the vaunted Houston Rodeo, Cody Johnson doesn’t need to jump through the hoops that other developing artists are sometimes asked to, though some labels still tried as they pursued him.
“It was like a 360 deal, and I didn’t feel right about that,” Cody says about one of the deals he turned down. “I own my own company, I built it with my own hands. Every deal I had been offered required change—we don’t want your producer, or we don’t want your manager or your booking agent, or you need to take off your cowboy hat because that’s not what’s selling right now. I’m not bitter about that but I just thought those [offers] are not what’s meant to be for me.”
Cody’s new album Ain’t Nothin’ To It is expected in early 2019. His single “On My Way To You” has already hit #25 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, and #34 on the Airplay chart.
September 15, 2018 @ 10:04 am
Very true. He won’t be changed. Great!!!
But I’m sure his label (Warner) won’t even care to have the possibility of ever changing him , or for that matter, even supporting him.
Look at how Warner handled William Michael Morgan. I’m sure Warner will support his first single… somewhat. I just don’t see this guy going #1. He screams “Top 30” hit maker. But i truly do enjoy his music mate.
I hope his label knows how awesome and traditional this guy is.
If I were Cody, I would focus on streaming numbers and album sales – and worry less about potential radio spins.
Look at Miranda or Stapleton… rarely supported on radio but have the sale numbers!!
September 15, 2018 @ 10:28 am
“You need to take off your cowboy hat because that’s not what we’re selling right now”
Thank you Cody for turning down that deal!
September 15, 2018 @ 11:44 am
Cowboy Hats are becoming popular again in mainstream country.
“We’ve been out all night, tearing up this town. Getting ready for the second round. Cause when you get turned on, I can’t turn you down. You start to slip it off… Grab my Hat and start Dancing around the bedroom. Moonlight in the window. Country on the radio. Silhouette Beautiful. Come on little closer, get me some of that. Ahh You Look So Good in Nothing But My Cowboy Hat.
September 15, 2018 @ 12:35 pm
Took the thought right out of my head. Wouldn’t we all like to know what idiot A&R chode from the row told him to take off his cowboy hat? Probably the same goofball that told Jon Pardi that very same thing. He probably handed him a ball cap and said “wear it backwards and you’ll be cool”….lol and right after that “here’s Thomas Rhett’s hairdressers name go get yourself a faux hawk.
September 15, 2018 @ 1:17 pm
Faux hawks and fades are the country bro hairstyle craze. It just makes them look like college “seniors” in their tenth year. “My 30th birthday party gonna be lit y’all in my dorm. Maybe she can wear them shirts that her mom cut, and hop in my blue tacoma. A night I won’t soon forget”
September 15, 2018 @ 1:21 pm
Fun fact, Jon Pardi started his career not wearing cowboy hats.. A la his first album. But in 2015 he started wearing them which is the other way around for most artists… They wear the cowboy hat for the first few singles… then ditch it. I’m looking at you, Chris Young
September 16, 2018 @ 7:11 pm
I get what you are saying, however Pardi wore one on occasion before he was signed.
September 15, 2018 @ 12:43 pm
Looking forward to this album. Cody is on my buy without listening list.
September 15, 2018 @ 1:58 pm
Good for him, but let’s keep in mind that Cody Johnson is not Jason Isbell or Cody Jinks or Sturgill Simpson. His sound has always veered closer to the new-traditional/hat act sound of the late 80’s and 90’s. Not a slam on him, but it’s not like sound wise he has to change much to fit in with the sound guys like Jon Pardi are using at radio.
I suspect labels dislike the Texas guys a lot when trying to sign them because they have actual leverage over the label. Some kid from rural Iowa has no choice to go the Nashville route (in their mind)…but a kid from Texas can easily have a comfortable life just play gigs in the Red Dirt region if they are good.
September 15, 2018 @ 7:10 pm
on a side note, the new Eric Church single ‘monsters’ is dumb as dammit..
September 16, 2018 @ 8:59 am
I’ve heard this before, Mr Aaron Watson?
September 16, 2018 @ 10:22 am
I’m really looking forward to this one; “On My Way To You” is a pretty reassuring introduction to the new release, as is his statement about the album being completed before the major label deal discussions began.
September 16, 2018 @ 2:59 pm
Trigger, here are fans asking for help.
Kellie Pickler is, now, an emmy-nominated TV show host. Amazing for her. But it’s like she’s abandoned music forever. However, she knows what people talk about her and we quite love what she’s achieving but this is not the reason why we are Kellie Pickler fans.
Can you make an article about Kellie? I know you did one comparing her life as a country song. But, now, we have zero of Kellie as a singer/songwriter and more of a tv show host.
She helps to save country music and we ask for your help.
September 16, 2018 @ 7:28 pm
Somehow I actually understand what you’re trying to say.
September 16, 2018 @ 10:51 pm
It’s a real shame that mainstream country cannot support women to any great degree, and Kellie Pickler sought out greener pastures in entertainment because of this. I really wish Kellie would continue to pursue music even as just a passion project, but I could understand her frustrations, and reasons she may not want to.
Not sure there’s much I can do. But I will think about it.
September 17, 2018 @ 2:12 am
Thank you, Trigger!
It’s like her journey as a major label
artist made herself as a blonde bimbo, stupid as hell person. Who could forget her Are you smarter than a fifth grader? participation, which obviously was herself playing a part – the lovely 6th place from American Idol. Kellie ain’t an expert, but she’s not dumb.
She’s been proving herself day after day, but her REAL country music is the key.
September 17, 2018 @ 6:22 am
I have to agree with you here. I have been a fan of Kellie since the Idol days. I fell in love with her personality and back story on the show, and thought her debut album was good pop-country at the time considering the little input she must have had on the project aside from a handful of co-writes. Then watching her bloom into her full potential with the more traditional “100 Proof” album makes it all the more difficult not getting any new material from her recently.
However, I do live in the Nashville area and have been able to attend a few live tapings of her talk show. Kellie is a natural in front of the camera. It was amazing watching her come full circle from struggling on country radio to having command of the studio audience and now reaching 150+ TV markets.
It seems like as the talk show takes off she could have the resources to pursue music as a passion project. Since being dumped from a label and being an independent artist, I would love to see her gather the writers, players, and producer of her choice and make the project we know she’s capable of.
September 17, 2018 @ 12:24 pm
Yes, Will!
Kellie is important to country music, she actually went out of the way to actually sing about her life and what inspired her.
She’s always been a natural on camera. Remember right after Idol when FOX was pitching a sitcom with herself? But, she’s first and foremost a singer.
Country Music needs Kellie Pickler. I, myself, am from Brazil. 1 sale she has (and, oh boy it’s not cheap).
September 18, 2018 @ 9:01 am
I saw Cody Johnson a few weeks ago at The Ranch here in Ft Myers. He played a few of his new songs, and of the 5 he played, 4 were really great. He has a new one called “Haters”, and I could take or leave that one. But there are some real gems coming from him. He’s got a ballad to the rodeo, which was really stood out. He certainly seems to have kept his true sound, which makes his next album seem very exciting!