Big Loud Reveals Joint Venture With Severance Records
Big Loud has announced a new joint venture with independent rock label Severance Records. The Nashville-based label was founded in 2023 by music business veterans Mike Easterlin and Steve “Stevo” Robertson as a joint venture with Big Loud Records.
Let's get rocked: Severance Records has a global vision and footprint and aims "to create culture, breaking alternative rock music that connects on an international scale." Easterlin and Robertson both have extensive experience in the rock space; Easterlin most recently served as Co-President of Elektra Entertainment after serving as President / GM at Fueled By Ramen and Roadrunner Records. He began his career at Virgin Records and has held leadership roles at Island Def Jam, and throughout his career has fostered artists including Smashing Pumpkins, Lenny Kravitz, Blur, The Killers, Nickelback, Panic! At The Disco, All Time Low, Twenty One Pilots, The Band Camino, Paramore, Shinedown, Tones and I, Young The Giant, Bailey Zimmerman and more.
Robertson worked at Atlantic Records for 25 years, most recently serving as GM / SVP of A&R, Pop / Rock for Atlantic's Nashville presence. He signed Shinedown, Paramore, Rainbow Kitten Surprise, Knox, A Day To Remember and more and helped developed talent including GAYLE, Collective Soul, Seven Mary Three, Matchbox 20 and other acts.
Severance's flagship signing is Southern alt / alt-rock band Dexter and The Moonrocks. The band hails from Texas and is inspired by artists ranging from Rainbow Kitten Surprise and Foo Fighters to Tyler Childers and Whiskey Myers, contributing to their niche take on Southern rock.
What they're saying: “Stevo and I could not be more excited to be joining the Big Loud family,” Easterlin said in a statement. “(Big Loud Partners) Seth (England), Joey (Moi), Craig (Wiseman), and (Big Loud Rock / Big Loud Management Partner + President) Greg (Thompson) have been so supportive from the first time we met about building this partnership together. Watching the company that Big Loud has become in the country space only drives Stevo and I to want to make Severance Records the same kind of force in the alternative space. Our goal is to be rooted in Nashville, but global in vision.”
Big Loud Partner / CEO Seth England added, “Mike and Stevo have championed some of the most exciting, culture-driving music of the last two decades, so when the opportunity to work with them in this capacity came up, it was an instant 'yes.' We're grateful to partner with them and build a legacy together with Severance.”
This is the latest label offshoot for Big Loud, which launched the Texas-centered imprint Big Loud Texas in November in partnership with Miranda Lambert and Jon Randall and rock/alternative imprint Big Loud Rock in 2021. Big Loud itself launched in 2015 and has achieved billions of global streams, numerous No. 1s and over 70 RIAA certified titles.