Magic from the start.
In an extensive interview with Variety, Big Loud Executive Seth England, songwriter Craig Wiseman and producer Joey Moi recently talked all things music, and of course, they spoke in-depth about their flagship performer, Morgan Wallen.
He became a part of the label during their very early days, and right off the bat, so to speak, he was churning out hits.
Morgan’s first write with Wiseman ended up being “Chasin’ You,” which was ultimately released in July of 2019 as the fourth single from his 2018 studio album, If I Know Me. He co-wrote it with Jamie Moore and Craig Wiseman, and it became his third consecutive number one hit on the Billboard Country Airplay chart in 2020.
In December of 2020, it was declared the number one song of the year, becoming Morgan’s second consecutive song to achieve this distinction. It also became a minor crossover hit, charting in the top 20 on the Billboard Hot 100. It has since been certified six-times Platinum by the RIAA.
Wiseman recalled Morgan was sleeping on a friend’s couch and drove a borrowed truck to their writing session…
“Yeah. So he was sleeping on a buddy’s couch and borrowed a truck to come to the writing session. I would write with all of our young artists, because our most notable writers would be like, ‘No, I’m writing with other hit songwriters, to make money!’ So I would take the bullet and be like, ‘I’m gonna go write with this young kid.’
We wrote ‘Chasin’ You.’ That second verse is something I wrote that actually breaks that fourth wall: ‘I’m in Nashville and now I’m on the radio and I haven’t given up. I’m still chasing you on the radio.’ I put that in there as I was sitting there thinking, ‘Holy s***, this kid’s gonna be a star.’”
He was certainly right about that… though I’m not sure he was even in the realm of thinking Morgan would become as big as he has.
Of course, he scored so many hits and has more money than he can even imagine now, but it’s really neat to hear about his early days and how hard he really worked to get to the point he’s at now. Just five or so years ago, Morgan was sleeping on a friend’s couch and driving a borrowed truck. It’s pretty astonishing.
In terms of working with Morgan on a personal level, despite all of his public controversies and incidents which have been well-documented over the last several years, Wiseman says it’s been a “piece of cake.”
I’m sure those royalty checks make any kind of controversy a little easier, but by all accounts across the industry, Morgan is a delight to work with. Maybe he’s not exactly a delight to go out on Broadway with after midnight, but he’s kept out of the spotlight for the better part of the past year and a half. Seems like Morgan has grown up quite a bit in the past year…
They also talked about Morgan being a “self-starter,” and how it’s been all his decision in terms of putting out the very lengthy, 30-plus song albums which have all been extremely successful and made Morgan a global superstar. Just months after his most recent I’m The Problem album came out, Morgan was ready to start working on new music.
Morgan is also up for several trophies at the CMA Awards this year, including Entertainer of the Year, Male Vocalist of the Year, and Album of the Year for his album I’m The Problem. He is also the reigning Entertainer of the Year and has 18 career CMA nominations in total, and has won just two of them, New Artist of the Year in 2019 and the aforementioned Entertainer of the Year in 2024.
He was announced as the CMA International Artist Achievement Award winner on Friday.
I still think this is one of Morgan’s best songs, too…
“Chasin’ You”
‘Still The Problem’ Tour Dates
April 10 || Minneapolis, Minn. || U.S. Bank Stadium w/ Thomas Rhett, Gavin Adcock, Vincent Mason
April 11 || Minneapolis, Minn. || U.S. Bank Stadium w/ HARDY, Gavin Adcock, Vincent Mason
April 18 || Tuscaloosa, Ala. || Saban Field at Bryant-Denny Stadium w/ Ella Langley, Vincent Mason, Zach John King
May 1 || Las Vegas, Nev. || Allegiant Stadium w/ Brooks & Dunn, Gavin Adcock, Vincent Mason
May 2 || Las Vegas, Nev. || Allegiant Stadium w/ Thomas Rhett, Gavin Adcock, Vincent Mason
May 8 || Indianapolis, Ind. || Lucas Oil Stadium w/ Brooks & Dunn, Hudson Westbrook, Zach John King
May 9 || Indianapolis, Ind. || Lucas Oil Stadium w/ Ella Langley, Flatland Cavalry, Zach John King
May 15 || Gainesville, Fla. || Ben Hill Griffin Stadium w/ Thomas Rhett, Gavin Adcock, Zach John King
May 16 || Gainesville, Fla. || Ben Hill Griffin Stadium w/ Ella Langley, Gavin Adcock, Zach John King
May 29 || Denver, Colo. || Empower Field at Mile High w/ Brooks & Dunn, Gavin Adcock, Vincent Mason
May 30 || Denver, Colo. || Empower Field at Mile High w/ Ella Langley, Gavin Adcock, Vincent Mason
June 5 || Pittsburgh, Penn. || Acrisure Stadium w/ Brooks & Dunn, Gavin Adcock, Zach John King
June 6 || Pittsburgh, Penn. || Acrisure Stadium w/ Ella Langley, Gavin Adcock, Zach John King
June 19 || Chicago, Ill. || Soldier Field w/ Brooks & Dunn, Gavin Adcock, Zach John King
June 20 || Chicago, Ill. || Soldier Field w/ Ella Langley, Gavin Adcock, Zach John King
June 26 || Clemson, SC. || Clemson Memorial Stadium w/ Brooks & Dunn, Gavin Adcock, Jason Scott & The High Heat
June 27 || Clemson, SC. || Clemson Memorial Stadium w/ Ella Langley, Gavin Adcock, Jason Scott & The High Heat
July 17 || Baltimore, Md. || M&T Bank Stadium w/ Brooks & Dunn, Gavin Adcock, Jason Scott & The High Heat
July 18 || Baltimore, Md. || M&T Bank Stadium w/ Ella Langley, Gavin Adcock, Jason Scott & The High Heat
July 24 || Ann Arbor, Mich. || Michigan Stadium w/ Thomas Rhett, Hudson Westbrook, Blake Whiten
July 25 || Ann Arbor, Mich. || Michigan Stadium w/ HARDY, Hudson Westbrook, Blake Whiten
July 31 || Philadelphia, Penn. || Lincoln Financial Field w/ Brooks & Dunn, Hudson Westbrook, Blake Whiten
August 1 || Philadelphia, Penn. || Lincoln Financial Field w/ Ella Langley, Hudson Westbrook, Blake Whiten
