Morgan Wallen in Nashville in November 2023.Photo:Jason Davis/WireImage
Jason Davis/WireImage
Morgan Wallenhas issued a response — and a new recording — after he says his former managers distributed previously unreleased material from 2015 “against my wishes.”
On Friday, the country star, 30, released the track, “Spin You Around (1/24)." The re-recording is a new take on his 2015 song of the same name. It originally appeared on hisStand AloneEP, when he was still at Panacea Records.
As Wallen explained to fans in astatement posted to social media, “colleagues I parted ways with almost 10 years ago” released an extended version of the EP Friday without his consent, and it now shows up under his name on streaming platforms.
“I’m writing y’all from a duck hunting trip because I want to fill you in on something happening tonight,” Wallen shared. “Back in 2014, I went to Florida to try my hand at making original music & songwriting for the first time. This led to a recording deal with a local investor & an artist management deal that I deeply regret.”
“Unfortunately, I signed both deals without any legal representation,” he wrote. “We made 13 songs. Some were OK, most were terrible as I was just learning how to write in general & figuring it all out.”
Adding that many of the songs they recorded “were not my idea nor to my standards,” Wallen explained that his former partners still had a 10th anniversary edition of the EP planned with the 8 unreleased tracks, “distributing it with the assistance of my former managers.”
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Stand Alone (10th Anniversary Deluxe Edition), credited to Wallen on streaming services such as Spotify and Apple Music, was released on Friday via Panacea Records and “under exclusive license to Hard Working Recordings, LLC.”
Panacea Records did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment on Friday.
Morgan Wallen performs in Atlanta in November 2023.Christopher Polk/Penske Media via Getty
Christopher Polk/Penske Media via Getty
In response to the old music being released without his approval, Wallen released the re-recorded track on Friday and shared his intentions to donate $100,000 from hisMorgan Wallen Foundationto the Volunteer Lawyers & Professionals for the Arts (VLPA) program.
“I hope young aspiring musicians read this story & know they should never have to give up their creative freedoms for an opportunity in this business,” Wallen wrote. “Trust me, when new music is ready, you’ll hear it directly from me.”
The clip followed Wallen’s recent crossover moment withPost MaloneandHARDY, who joined him on stage at the 2023CMA Awardstoperform a Joe Diffie tributein November.
source: people.com
