Florida Georgia Line Launch Indie Label, Round Here Records
Add another line to the duo's resume.
Brian Kelley and Tyler Hubbard of the superstar duo Florida Georgia Line are no strangers to the business world, having already founded their own publishing company (Tree Vibez Music), a whiskey brand (Old Camp) and more, but today (August 15) marks the beginning of a new creative venture.
Kelley and Hubbard have just founded their very own record label, announcing Round Here Records and its debut artist, country singer-songwriter Canaan Smith. Smith first found success with his romantically-charged single, “Love You Like That,” which became a Platinum-certified No.1 in 2015, and the Virginia native is celebrating his new label home with a party-ready release called “Beer Drinkin’ Weather” which was also co-written and co-produced with Kelley and Hubbard.
Speaking with Billboard about the new venture, Hubbard says Round Here Records is just a natural extension of what the duo have been doing for years.
“The label started with a passion to create music and to make records,” he explains. “It happened organically [as] we continued to find the artists and friends that we love, believe in and thought had a gift and talent that we wanted to try to nurture. It turned into something that we are really excited about. [We’re] trying to do some trailblazing in this record label space.”
Much like the label itself, the Smith signing didn’t exactly come out of nowhere. He joined the duo’s Tree Vibez Music in 2018 and actually attended Nashville’s Belmont University around the same time as Kelley and Hubbard.
“BK and T-Hubb are like brothers to me, so doing this with them is a dream,” Smith added through an official statement. “I believe in this team and know we’re going to do great things together. I’m honored to be the first artist on this label that’s sure to explode.”
Smith is indeed the label’s first artist — but according to Kelley and Hubbard he won’t be the last. They tell Billboard they have three more acts who plan to release new music “real, real soon,” and they’re enjoying passing on the experience they’ve gained to up and coming artists.
“The thing that Tyler and I love seeing is a little bit of me and him in each of these artists,” Kelley says. “There’s something about each artist, each songwriter, that reminds us of us and that’s what we’re drawn to. Each time we fall in love with music and this journey over and over again.”
Florida Georgia Line remain signed to Big Machine Label Group and are currently out on their Can’t Say I Ain’t Country Tour, which includes Smith as an opening act.
