Morgan Wallen warns fans after alleged unplanned music leak
Morgan Wallen speaks out. The country star took a well-deserved break from time off to let fans know about a so-called new music drop that was never meant to be.
“I'm writing to you all about a duck hunt because I want to inform you about something happening tonight,” Wallen, 30, wrote via Instagram on Thursday, January 25. “In 2014, I went to Florida to try my hand at original music and songwriting for the first time. This led to a record deal with a local investor and an artist management deal that I deeply regret. Unfortunately, I signed both deals without any legal representation.”
Wallen claimed that he did not have full creative control over the thirteen songs he made during that time, saying, “Some were okay, most were terrible.” He noted that only five of those songs made it onto his debut EP, Stand aloneincluding fan favorite “Spin You Around.”
The “Last Night” singer further claimed that the collaborators planned to release the music without his permission.
The bad boy of country music. Morgan Wallen has faced a series of controversies throughout his career. The “Whiskey Glasses” singer got his start on Season 6 of The Voice in 2014, where he was part of Adam Levine's team but was eliminated during the playoffs. Two years after his appearance on the […]
“Tonight, the colleagues I parted with almost ten years ago plan to release a '10th Anniversary' edition of Stand alone Against my wishes and containing eight unreleased songs, which I distributed with the help of my former managers,” he continued. “For months I have explored every possible avenue to acquire the rights to this old music and keep the quality of my catalog consistent with the songs I release and believe in.”
In response to the release, Wallen drops his own new music. The 'Seven Summers' singer will release 'Spin You Around (1/24)' on Friday, January 26 at midnight. The drop appears to be a last-minute response, as Wallen admits, “I did the artwork myself while I was in the studio. wood duck hunting.”
Wallen also puts his money where his mouth is. He has pledged to donate $100,000 from the Morgan Wallen Foundation to the Volunteer Lawyers and Professionals for the Arts (VLPA) program in an effort to prevent this from happening to other new artists.
“I hope aspiring young musicians read this story and know that they should never have to give up their creative freedoms for an opportunity in this business,” he said.
Sometimes America's sweethearts turn sour. From Morgan Wallen to The Chicks, country music's biggest names have been at the center of some major controversies. Natalie Maines, Martie Maguire and Emily Strayer found themselves in hot water in the early 2000s after sharing their personal politics on a public stage. During the performance about the […]
Wallen, who calls the alleged episode “gross, greedy and an example of how the dark side of the music business can suck the soul out of artists,” wants his fans to know that this music is not part of his next era. “Trust me, when new music is ready, you'll hear it straight from me,” he said.
New music is not the only news coming from the Red Light District camp today. Earlier this morning it was announced that Wallen and fellow countryman are stars Erik Kerk had acquired Field and current magazine and plan to relaunch the outdoorsman's beloved brand as a print magazine, website and apparel company, along with plans for a live music festival.
It's a fitting new gig for a man who released a statement about leaked music from a duck hunting expedition.