Shaboozey Signs With EMPIRE for Publishing

EMPIRE has expanded its relationship with Shaboozey by signing the Grammy-winning hitmaker to a publishing deal, the company tells Billboard.

Vinny Kumar, who serves as president at EMPIRE Publishing, helped secure the agreement alongside EMPIRE Publishing senior vp of A&R Eric Hurt, who signed Shaboozey to the EMPIRE label in 2021. The singer-songwriter and rapper went on to score a massive success for the label with “A Bar Song (Tipsy),” which spent a record-tying 19 weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and has been certified diamond by the RIAA. EMPIRE also released Shaboozey’s 2024 album Where I’ve Been, Isn’t Where I’m Going, which debuted at No. 5 on the Billboard 200.

“We’re thrilled to expand our partnership with Shaboozey in this publishing deal,” said Hurt in a statement. “As great of an artist as Shaboozey is, he’s equally as talented as a songwriter; constantly striving to write the most compelling, story-driven songs that reach a broad and diverse audience. EMPIRE looks forward to supporting the publishing interests of a global artist who knows it always has to start with great songs”.

“The creative foundation of Shaboozey’s success is his writing, which sits at the center of one of the most significant chart achievements in recent memory,” added Kumar. “We’re proud to partner with him on the publishing side as he continues to make history.”

Shaboozey’s manager, Jared Cotter at Range Media, added, “We couldn’t be happier to double down on the mutual commitment between Shaboozey and EMPIRE. They have been integral partners in Shaboozey’s success on the record side and I have no doubt we will say the same in the publishing business as well.”

Since the release of “Tipsy,” Shaboozey has formed his own imprint, American Dogwood, in partnership with EMPIRE and released an expanded version of Where I’ve Been that included “Amen,” his Jelly Roll collab that won a Grammy for best country duo/group performance earlier this month. He’s also released a number of new singles recently, including “Let ‘Em Know,” the opening track on Prime Sports’ Thursday Night Football; “Took a Walk” with Stephen Wilson Jr., written for the Lionsgate film The Long Walk; and “Move On” with Kevin Powers, who signed with American Dogwood in September.