Big Loud Records Learned From the Biggest Indie Labels in History on the Way to Winning the Variety Hitmakers Platinum Decade Award

Big Loud Records embodies the combative energy of what its co-founder, producer Joey Moi, describes as a "pissed-off startup." Alongside partners Seth England and Craig Wiseman, Moi helms an entity that combines the nimbleness of a new venture with the clout of an industry giant, a feat largely propelled by its superstar artist, Morgan Wallen. Their blueprint is drawn not from Nashville's traditional power players but from the legendary, founder-driven music companies of the past.

The label's integrated structure, launched ten years ago on the foundation of the pre-existing Big Loud Publishing, is designed to foster unexpected creativity. This environment famously led to a chance hallway meeting between artist Morgan Wallen and songwriter Ernest, where they discovered a past as high school baseball rivals and subsequently formed a massively productive songwriting partnership. For Chief Creative Officer Seth England, the ultimate inspiration is Berry Gordy's Motown. A formative solo trip to the original Hitsville U.S.A. studio in Detroit—the launchpad for legends like The Supremes and Marvin Gaye—cemented his belief that a label could achieve monumental influence without corporate ownership. "Motown wasn't just Berry's company; Smokey Robinson had immense creative input," England notes, drawing a direct parallel to the collaborative executive dynamic he fosters with Moi and Wiseman.

This commitment to independence is non-negotiable. "We are completely self-funded and answer only to ourselves. Every dollar invested has come directly from us," states Craig Wiseman, a Grammy-winning songwriter for stars like Tim McGraw before becoming a label executive. He emphasizes the grueling reality of building a true small business, where the founders went years without taking salaries. England sees a kindred spirit in Scott Borchetta, the founder of Big Machine Label Group, who famously built an empire by betting on a teenage Taylor Swift. Industry analysts frequently cite Borchetta's patient, strategic development of Swift—who released her first four albums with Big Machine—as a masterclass in artist cultivation, a model Big Loud has studied while forging its own path.

At its heart, Big Loud remains a publishing-first enterprise. "Every one of our business cards leads with 'publisher,'" Joey Moi points out. This song-centric ethos attracts elite writers and gives them significant leverage. Wiseman explains that collaborating with a prolific artist like Morgan Wallen, known for writing multiple songs in a single, marathon studio session, elevates the entire team's standards. One songwriter confessed that working on projects for other artists felt lackluster after experiencing Wallen's intense creative pace. This system has successfully transitioned artists like Hardy and Ernest from behind-the-scenes songwriters into major label headliners who continue to enrich the company's publishing catalog, creating a self-sustaining creative economy.

While Morgan Wallen's record-shattering success—including his 36-track 2023 album "One Thing At a Time," which spent 16 non-consecutive weeks at #1 on the Billboard 200—has been transformative, the label views itself as a song-driven operation where Wallen is the flagship example. His relentless drive is a key engine; the leadership team often receives texts from a restless Wallen, ready to record new material mere weeks after a major album release. "I got a text that said, 'I think I'm ready to cut more songs.' The album had just come out!" Moi recalls, laughing at the demanding tempo. This constant cycle of creation fuels the vibrant ecosystem Big Loud has built—a modern-day Hitsville operating from Nashville, demonstrating that a foundational focus on songcraft can still construct a formidable music empire.