There is about to be some new Morgan Wallen product in the marketplace, he says — and he would very much like you to not listen to it. The country superstar took to his social media Thursday night to ask fans not to stream some apparently forthcoming tracks that he recorded back in his pre-Big Loud days, indicating that he’s not particularly proud of them and is angry the decade-old material is coming out against his wishes.
Meanwhile, Taylor Swift-style, he has re-recorded one of that particular batch of songs that he does like — “Spin You Around” — to give fans something to listen to while they’re avoiding the decade-old material that just got picked up off the cutting room floor.
Five of the songs had previously been released as an EP, “Stand Alone,” which he’d been willing to stand behind. Now, his former partners have re-released the project as a “10th anniversary” project with the eight additional tracks that were recorded at the time, more than doubling the length with what he considers substandard material. He calls most of the previously unreleased material “terrible.”
“I want you to know this is NOT my new music & I don’t want to see this happen to anyone else. I cringe when I listen to these songs & I’m concerned my fans may mistakenly believe this is a new release by me,” he wrote. “It’s gross, greedy & an example of how the dark side of the music business can suck the soul out of artists.”
The original “Stand Alone” EP was released in 2015 by Panacea Records. As of Thursday night, only the five originally released songs were on streaming services, without the eight additional ones Wallen says his former partners are looking to put out.
Variety has reached out to the label to ask if the company does indeed plan to put out the eight contested tracks.
Wallen said he learned of the old music coming out while he was duck-hunting, and actually put together a cover for the new “Spin You Around” single while he was out on the hunt.
He also said he plans to begin a new album in February, following up on two of the most commercially successful albums of the modern era.
His statement in full:
I’m writing y’all from a duck hunting trip because I want to fill you in on something happening tonight.
Back in 2014, I went to Florida to try my hand at making original music & songwriting for the first time. This led to a recording deal with a local investor & an artist management deal that I deeply regret. Unfortunately, I signed both deals without any legal representation.
We made 13 songs. Some were ok, most were terrible as I was just learning how to write in general & figuring it all out. I was not the only collaborator, so many of these songs were not my idea nor to my standards. We deemed 5 worthy-enough to make the Stand Alone EP which includes a fan-favorite, “Spin You Around.”
Tonight, those colleagues I parted ways with almost 10 years ago plan to release a “10th Anniversary” edition of Stand Alone against my wishes & include 8 unreleased songs, distributing it with the assistance of my former managers. For months I’ve been exploring every avenue possible to acquire the rights to this old music & keep the quality of my catalog consistent with songs I choose to release & believe in.
It’s gross, greedy & an example of how the dark side of the music business can suck the soul out of artists.
I want you to know this is NOT my new music & I don’t want to see this happen to anyone else. I cringe when I listen to these songs & I’m concerned my fans may mistakenly believe this is a new release by me. I begin recording my next project at the end of February. I’m feeling inspired creatively & super excited to make more music I’m proud of.
In response:
1. I re-recorded “Spin You Around (1/24)” this week in Nashville & it comes out TONIGHT.
Thank you Joey Moi & Bryan Sutton. I did the artwork myself while in the woods duck hunting. Hope you like it, lol.
2. I am donating $100k from the Morgan Wallen Foundation to the Volunteer Lawyers & Professionals For The Arts (VLPA) program. I hope young aspiring musicians read this story & know they should never have to give up their creative freedoms for an opportunity in this business.
3. Trust me, when new music is ready, you’ll hear it directly from me.
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