Morgan Wallen hits back at former label in Taylor Swift style

Country music star Morgan Wallen slams former label for releasing old music, responds by releasing his own rerecording of hit song.

Country music star Morgan Wallen has expressed his disdain for his former music label, Panacea Records, calling them "gross" and "greedy" for releasing a decade-old album against his wishes. Wallen took to Instagram to voice his concerns about the release of the album "Stand Alone (10th Anniversary Deluxe Edition)," which features previously unreleased songs from his 2015 EP "Stand Alone." He stated that the release was done without his support and with the help of his former managers.

Wallen described the move by Panacea Records as an example of the dark side of the music business, emphasizing how it can drain the soul out of artists. He expressed discomfort with the old songs and worried that his fans might mistake them for new releases. The country music star also revealed that the music was recorded in 2014, during a time when he was still learning the ropes of songwriting and music production.

Despite his efforts to acquire the rights to the old music, Wallen was unable to prevent the release of the album. In response, he took matters into his own hands by releasing a rerecorded version of his hit song "Spin You Around" and announced a donation of $10,000 to the Volunteer Lawyers & Professionals for the Arts (VLPA) program. He also urged aspiring musicians to protect their creative freedoms in the music industry.

The head of Panacea Records, William Ray, defended the release of the album, expressing excitement about sharing the songs with the world. Wallen's situation draws parallels to Taylor Swift's battle with her former music label, Big Machine Records, over the ownership of her previous albums.

Despite facing backlash over his use of a racial slur in 2021, Wallen has made a comeback in the music industry. He issued a public apology and engaged with the Black community to gain a deeper understanding of the impact of his words. Since then, he has continued to produce chart-topping hits and has performed at the 2022 Billboard Music Awards. Wallen's experience serves as a cautionary tale for artists navigating the complexities of the music business.