NASHVILLE, Tenn. – EMPIRE Publishing, the publishing arm of independent powerhouse record label EMPIRE, has entered a partnership with two-time GRAMMY winner and multi hyphenate songwriting titan, Billy Ray Cyrus. Cyrus holds the worldwide record as a co-writer on the best-selling RIAA 14x Diamond-certified song of all-time, “Old Town Road,” which still reigns as the longest Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 record for 19 consecutive weeks. Cyrus will also release “Remember Why You’re Here” on Nov. 22 that he co-wrote with James Slater.
“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 Billy Ray Cyrus.
EMPIRE’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, while EMPIRE Publishing A&R, Eric Hurt, helped secure the deal.
“We’re excited to welcome Billy Ray Cyrus to the EMPIRE Publishing family,” says Vinny 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 Al 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.
“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 Eric Hurt, VP A&R, EMPIRE Publishing. “He’s only scratched the surface and we’re thrilled to be partners with him.”
Cyrus exploded onto the music scene with Some Gave All, the title track that he wrote 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 addition to his GRAMMY Awards, his accolades include Billboard Music Awards, BET Hip Hop Awards, MTV VMA Moonmen, Country Music Association Awards, American Music Awards and Canadian Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences Juno Awards, among many more. A passionate philanthropist, Cyrus dedicates his time and talent giving back to U.S. service members, veterans and first responders.
ABOUT EMPIRE
Founded in 2010 by Bay Area native Ghazi, EMPIRE is currently leading through its innovative and progressive approach to the digital music era across its label, distribution and publishing arms.
With its focus on early stage artist development, the San Francisco based company has been instrumental in identifying future icons and launching the careers of both Multi-platinum and Grammy Award winning artists such as Kendrick Lamar, Fireboy DML, Yung Bleu, Migos, Asake, XXXtentacion, Shaboozey, and Anderson .Paak to name a few. After this early success, EMPIRE was quickly regarded as a tastemaker in the industry and premier independent record label.
More than a decade in, EMPIRE continues to grow – expanding the Publishing division with a partnership with superproducer Hit-Boy and his Surf Club collective, signing RVSHVD to EMPIRE Nashville Publishing, and acquiring Dirtybird Records in 2022 to amplify the Dance arm. EMPIRE has expanded the team throughout the globe on the African continent, Europe, Asia, North America, and South America. With the company and roster excelling at a breakneck pace, EMPIRE has effectively disrupted a stale business model by bringing its energy, expertise, and acumen to its artists and labels.
Through crafting bespoke deals that are always in favor of the artist, EMPIRE is able to form a true partnership with each artist and label on its roster. Coupled with their unique software for analytics, recoupment, and royalties, which is available to every partner, the company offers a level of transparency unprecedented in the music industry.
