Singer/songwriter Chris Janson has officially inked a new record deal with Warner Bros. Records through Warner Music Nashville. Additionally, iHeartMedia will feature Janson in its “On The Verge Artist” program.
“Artistry, passion and hard work are the driving force here at Warner Music Nashville and Chris Janson exemplifies those very qualities,” said WMN President and CEO, John Esposito. “The guy played 16 hours a day at Tootsie’s for a year and he’s played the Opry almost a hundred times. Man, that’s dedication and playing for the love of the music. Our VP of A&R Cris Lacy has been championing and following his decade long path in Nashville and we’re ecstatic to welcome such a unique talent to the WMN family.”
Janson reached No. 1 on the iTunes Country Chart after he privately sent his then independent single “Buy Me A Boat” to nationally syndicated iHeartMedia Country radio talent Bobby Bones. The next day The Bobby Bones Show, the award-winning Country morning show heard on more than 80 radio stations, aired the track twice before it charted. In addition, “Chris Janson” trended in the Top 10 with superstars Toby Keith, Brad Paisley and Nashville’s Charles “Chip” Esten abuzz on Twitter about the catchy tune.
As the most recent iHeartRadio “On The Verge Artist,” Janson’s “Buy Me A Boat” will be heard across 140 Country radio stations for six consecutive weeks, beginning May 4, 2015. The program includes on-air exposure as well as significant digital and social support across iHeartMedia’s network to introduce new music to listeners. iHeartRadio’s “On The Verge Artist” program is based on key tracks and artists that iHeartMedia’s programmers are collectively passionate about and know their listeners will enjoy.
“I knew from the first meeting in Espo’s office with this team, that Warner Bros is where I was going to be and I appreciated the passion and love that I felt from the building,” said Janson. “I couldn’t be any more excited, and genuinely thankful for the opportunity. I’m looking forward to a long career with Warner.”
“As soon as our Country music programmers heard Chris Janson’s music, we knew he would be perfect for our ‘On The Verge Artist’ program,” said Clay Hunnicutt, Executive Vice President and General Manager of National Programming Platforms for iHeartMedia. “Discovering breakthrough artists like Janson and connecting them to new fans nationwide is what the ‘On The Verge Artist’ program is all about, and we know our Country radio listeners will agree.”
With undeniable charisma, Janson brings a blue-collar, working-class, boot-stomping hillbilly swagger to bear on every live performance, earning him opening slots for Florida Georgia Line, music legends Merle Haggard and Hank Williams Jr., as well as over 90 appearances at the Grand Ole Opry. The talented songwriter began writing at just 18 with an impressive group of musicians from the likes of Guns N’ Roses to the esteemed Larry Gatlin and co-wrote Tim McGraw’s highest chart debut of his career, “Truck Yeah.” The Perryville, Missouri native first broke onto the music scene when he landed a year long, four show a day gig at Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge on Nashville’s Lower Broadway. Janson is currently focusing on a heavy summer touring season and writing songs for his debut WMN album.
