Tenille Townes Parts Ways with Sony Nashville After Nearly Seven Years
3 min read
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Award-winning country music star Tenille Townes has announced her departure from Sony Music Nashville after a nearly seven-year partnership. The Canadian singer-songwriter, known for her heartfelt lyrics and powerful performances, shared the news in a heartfelt TikTok and Instagram post, signaling a major shift in her career.
Tenille Townes, who has found considerable success in her native Canada, including winning an impressive 17 Canadian Country Music Association Awards, acknowledged that her journey in the U.S. hasn’t taken off in the same way, despite notable achievements. These include winning the Academy of Country Music (ACM) Award for New Female Artist of the Year in 2020 and sharing another ACM Award with Miranda Lambert for their collaboration on “Fooled Around and Fell in Love.”
In her Instagram video, Townes narrated a message over images, including a Polaroid with the words “I’m free” written next to a heart. The background played an acoustic version of The Beatles’ “Blackbird,” a symbolic choice for the new direction she is taking in her career. In her message, Townes expressed her reasons for the split, explaining that her creative vision no longer aligned with the label’s direction.
“This is not a sob story, but a story of opportunity,” she said. “We’ve been working together for over seven years, but we haven’t been seeing eye to eye on my music and my path. It’s been creatively a struggle waiting on green lights inside a corporate system that doesn’t make sense anymore.” Townes added that the decision to leave Sony Nashville allows her to regain control of her music and release new material on her own terms. “This is me as a newly independent artist,” she said, “taking back ownership of what I create.”
Townes’ journey with Sony Music Nashville began in 2018, following her move from Grande Prairie, Alberta, to Nashville in 2013. During her time with the label, she released her debut album, The Lemonade Stand, in 2020. The album was a success in Canada, winning Country Album of the Year at the JUNO Awards and spawning two No. 1 hits with “Jersey on The Wall (I’m Just Asking)” and “Somebody’s Daughter,” the latter of which achieved Gold certification in the U.S.
Despite her success in Canada, Townes’ U.S. career saw more modest results, with “Somebody’s Daughter” peaking at No. 26 on the Country Airplay chart. She also released four EPs, including Train Track Worktapes in 2023, but struggled to break into the top tiers of the U.S. country music scene. The Lemonade Stand
Looking forward, Tenille Townes is preparing to embark on a new phase of her career as an independent artist. She has announced her headlining tour, “The Thing That Brought Me Here Tour,” which will kick off in October and run through November, starting in Canada. Townes is still managed by Shopkeeper Management, represented by WME, and published by Big Yellow Dog Music.
Townes reflected on her decision with a mixture of excitement and fear, saying, “It feels liberating, and if I’m honest, it also feels terrifying.” But her resolve is clear—she is ready to bet on herself again and carve out a new path in the industry, on her own terms.
As she starts this next chapter, her fans are eager to see what she will create next. With her talent and determination, there is no doubt that Townes will continue to soar.
Shivam Kumar
Hi, I'm Shivam Kumar. I'm pursuing Journalism honors from the IP University. I love the skill of writing and looking forward to learn more of it. Also I love traveling and experiencing new things every day....
