Country music star Chris Young has made a big move in his career. After spending nearly 19 years with Sony Records, he has now signed with Black River Entertainment.
This change has fans curious, and in a recent interview, Chris shared exactly why he made the switch—and it turns out, the decision was more about new beginnings than any kind of drama.
Why Did Chris Young Leave Sony Records?
Chris Young recently spoke with Evan Paul on Taste of Country Nights, where he was asked directly if there was any “beef” with Sony. Chris cleared the air quickly. He said his contract with Sony had ended, and after so many years, it was finally time to explore other options.
He explained, “I had been at Sony for almost 19 years. My deal was actually up, so I was like, ‘I get to play free agent for once.’” This means he was finally free to meet with other record labels and see what they had to offer.
Why Black River Entertainment?
Chris said that when he started taking meetings, his very first meeting was with Black River Entertainment, and it made an immediate impact. He shared that he spent three hours with their team, playing his new music and talking about the future.
“They loved all the songs,” he said, “and gave me everything I asked for and more.”
This meeting felt special from the start, but one thing really stood out and helped seal the deal. Chris recalled a moment when someone at Black River told him, “We got our queen. We want you to be our king.” They were referring to Kelsea Ballerini, another popular country artist already signed with the label.
Young admitted, “Man, that’s hard to turn that down.”
No Bad Blood with Sony
After nearly two decades with Sony, many fans wondered if something had gone wrong. But Chris made it clear there was no drama or bad feelings. In fact, he seems grateful for everything Sony did for his career. Now, he’s simply ready for a fresh start—and to be a bigger focus at a smaller label.
With Black River, he’ll likely get more personal attention and support, something that can be harder to find at a larger label where many artists compete for the spotlight.