Atlantic Music Group Is Launching a Country Imprint

According to reliable sources who spoke with The Hollywood Reporter, Atlantic Music Group is establishing a new country music label named Atlantic Outpost, which underscores yet another indication of the growing influence of West Coast record labels in Nashville.

The management of Atlantic Outpost will be handled by Jeff Levin, co-head of pop A&R at Atlantic, and Ian Cripps, EVP of A&R, with operations taking place in both Los Angeles and Nashville. Billboard initially reported this development, mentioning that the label is anticipated to reveal new signings shortly. However, a representative from Atlantic declined to comment on the matter.

The Atlantic record label has recently deepened its ties with the Nashville music scene by establishing a new division, reflecting the growing popularity of country music within the industry. Previously this year, Universal Music Group’s Interscope Records announced plans to reactivate Lost Highway records and signed renowned country artist Kacey Musgraves as their inaugural act. In this venture, John Janick, CEO of Interscope, appointed Robert Knotts and Jake Gear to manage the label.

Simultaneously, Capitol Music Group established its Nashville division in May, appointing Candice Watkins as president. On the independent scene, Mom + Pop Records, based in New York, recruited Nashville veteran Katie Fagan to head their newly opened Nashville office back in February. Furthermore, it’s noticeable that the labels in Nashville are increasingly influenced by the coasts. Last year, Warner Nashville came under the umbrella of L.A.-based Warner Records, with Cris Lacy and Greg Nadel now reporting directly to Aaron Bay-Schuck and Tom Corson, heads of Warner Records.

Country artists are also directly signing contracts with labels based in Los Angeles and New York, rather than just those in Nashville. For instance, Zach Bryan, who has recently renewed his contract with Warner Records, demonstrated that it’s not a necessity for country acts to be signed by a Nashville label to make a name for themselves in the genre. Atlantic Records, specifically, has achieved success with Bailey Zimmerman, who is simultaneously signed to both Atlantic’s Elektra Records and Warner Nashville. They will release his second album titled “Different Night Same Rodeo” in August.

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2025-07-26 00:25