Warner Music Australia Signs Brad Cox

Warner Music Australia is boosting its country stocks with the signing of Brad Cox.

Raised in Jindabyne in New South Wales’s Snowy Mountains, Cox, a former Sony Music artist, enjoyed a breakthrough in 2018 with his self-titled debut album, which collected the the singles “Red Light”, “Too Drunk to Drive”, “’Lake House” and “Water On The Ground”.

He went on to snag the Toyota Star Maker competition at the Tamworth Country Music Festival, and landed in the top 20 with his sophomore album, 2020’s My Mind’s Projection, peaking at No. 13 on the ARIA Albums Chart.

The following year, Cox launched the “Happy Hour Down Under” station on Apple Music.

A third album, Acres, dropped last year, and cracked the ARIA Top 10 (with a No. 7 peak).

“We are absolutely thrilled to welcome Brad Cox into the Warner Music family and are delighted that Brad has entrusted us with the next chapter of his career,” comments Dan Rosen, president of Warner Music Australasia.

“Brad’s genuine authenticity, admirable work ethic and undeniable talent has already captured the hearts of fans around Australia and we can’t wait to help take his music to more fans at home and around the world.”

To celebrate the new arrangement, Cox drops the new single “Everything I’ve Got.”

He’ll road test the song when he embarks on his biggest tour date, the Everything I Got jaunt, which starts Oct. 17 at University of Canberra, before stopping in at Sydney, Wollongong, Melbourne, Rockhampton and Brisbane.

“Signing this new record deal with Warner Music feels like home,” he says in a statement. “I feel like things are only getting better and better the more I get to work with this incredible crew. I feel like I’m understood in my vision for this project and supported with means to make the dreams happen. I’m thankful for the belief I’ve been shown and am humbled to have landed here at Warner Music for the next chapter. Feels incredibly right.”

Australia is recognized as the No. 3 market for country music, behind the United States and Canada, respectively. With the likes of Morgan Wallen and Luke Combs dominating Australia’s consumption charts and filling arenas, country music is enjoying a renaissance in these parts.

Aussies streamed 1.1 billion country tunes in the first half of 2023, based on the top 500 songs in the genre. Gen Z is found to have a growing appetite for country.

Cox’s tour opens Oct. 17 at University of Canberra, before heading to Sydney, Wollongong, Melbourne, Rockhampton and Brisbane.

The trek is presented by Handsome Tours, Lonely Lands Agency Mirror Music Group, Habit Music and transported by Mack & Highway Rentals Australia.

Lars Brandle

Billboard