So much for releasing only one more major label album, mostly stepping away from music, or outright retiring altogether, all of which Zach Bryan has flirted with or overtly promised over the last year or two. But really, any music fan with any level of awareness of how this stuff works knows to take these kinds of proclamations with a grain of salt. If Robert Earl Keen can’t stay away at the age of 69, Zach Bryan most certainly can’t at the age of 29.
And if we’re to believe the reporting, Zach Bryan is a 29 year old now worth $350 million more than he was last week. And with the way he’s pulling it in via streaming numbers and touring purses, this probably puts him somewhere close to or past half a billion dollars in net worth. Not bad for a Navy enlistee who got his start recording in an AirBNB with the couch cushions as sound buffers.
Zach Bryan had been pretty adamant that he wanted to move on from the major label world over the last year or so. He loved to complain about the situation, even though compared to many, he had just about as much autonomy as an artist could ask for. Zach signed with Warner in partnership with his own Belting Bronco Records around 2021 or so. It was apparently a four album deal.
In May of 2024, Zach Bryan said on X/Twitter that once he was done with the deal, he wanted to record a covers album of all Jason Isbell songs. This was one of Bryan’s numerous references to moving on from Warner. Then in January, he teased a film to be called Motorbreath, with Matthew McConaughey introducing it on Instagram by saying,
“This is not a film about a band. This is a film about a boy from Oklahoma, a boy who joined the Navy with a love of writing. That writing connected with people — a lot of people. This film is about a group of best friends taking a two-week motorcycle ride across America while recording one final major label album. Oh, and the title of the film, you ask? ‘Motorbreath.’”
But it was announced on Monday, May 5th that Zach Bryan had re-upped his deal with Warner Records for at least two more albums. And then also in a separate or perhaps related deal, Zach Bryan has sold his publishing catalog for $350 million dollars.
For context, Bob Dylan sold his publishing catalog for $300 million. Zach’s buddy Bruce Springsteen got a reported $500 million for his.
Who or what exactly Zach Bryan is selling his publishing catalog to is a lot of confusing mumbo jumbo about high rollers in the music business and incestuous inter-agency relationships between people who could buy or sell any of our asses any day of the week, and ultimately are placing the great American catalog of songs in the hands of private equity. Variety has a rundown, but even they are short on details.
What this all means is that Zach Bryan has definitely ascended the mountaintop in music. It remains to be seen where his career and output go from here. 2022’s American Heartbreak has revealed itself as his blockbuster album, beating out the subsequent Warner Records releases, though the album currently just sits at #7 in country, and #37 overall. But clearly those on the giving end of the $350 million feel Bryan still has ample upside potential.
Zach’s been teasing new songs for a while, and don’t be surprised if we get an announcement for a new album soon. Regardless of how you feel about him or his music, it’s clear that Zach Bryan has rewritten all rules and expectations for a non-radio artist in the country space. Though you would love to see some of your favorite independent artist scraping by get a fraction of what Zach Bryan just received, his success opens up the possibility that anyone with the right songs can reach the pinnacle in music.
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