Atlantic Music Group is launching a country records imprint called Atlantic Outpost, sources confirm to The Hollywood Reporter, marking just the latest sign of the coastal record labels’ increased presence in Nashville.
Atlantic Outpost will be headed by Atlantic’s co-head of pop A&R Jeff Levin and EVP of A&R Ian Cripps and based out of Los Angeles and Nashville. Billboard first reported the news of the launch, adding that the label is expected to announce signings soon. A rep for Atlantic didn’t respond to request for comment.
Atlantic is just the latest major coastal record label to further embed itself in the Nashville scene with an imprint, as country continues to be one of the hottest genres in the industry. Earlier this year, Universal Music Group’s Interscope Records had announced it was relaunching Lost Highway records, signing country superstar Kacey Musgraves as its first artist. Interscope CEO John Janick appointed Robert Knotts and Jake Gear to oversee the label.
Capitol Music Group, meanwhile, launched its Nashville division in May, bringing on Candice Watkins as president. On the indie side, New York’s Mom + Pop Records hired Nashville veteran Katie Fagan to run the label’s newly established Nashville office back in February. Outside of the imprints, the Nashville labels themselves are growing more influenced by the coasts as well. Warner Nashville moved under L.A. based Warner Records last year, with Cris Lacy and Greg Nadel reporting to Warner Records heads Aaron Bay-Schuck and Tom Corson.
Many country acts are signing directly to L.A. and New York-based labels as well. Zach Bryan, who recently re-signed with Warner Records, proved that country acts don’t necessarily need to sign with a Nashville label to break through in the genre. In Atlantic’s case, the company’s found success with Bailey Zimmerman, who’s jointly signed to Atlantic’s Elektra Records and Warner Nashville. The label is releasing his second album Different Night Same Rodeo in August.
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