Warner Music Australia Signs James Johnston

Warner Music Australia is lifting its game in the country music space with the signing of James Johnston, with support from Warner Nashville.

Johnston joins the music major’s roster with 80 million global streams under his hat, along with two Golden Guitar awards.

The Wingham, New South Wales native dropped his debut album in 2023, Raised Like That, and immediately had a hit with Australian country fans, roping in top spot on the ARIA Australian Country Albums Chart for a whopping 21 weeks.

The title track is ARIA platinum-certified.

He supported the release with the Raised Like That regional tour which visited Wollongong, Tamworth, Rockhampton, Townsville and the Sunshine Coast. His first ever solo concert pre-sold out in 56 minutes, reps say. 

Following spots at CMC Rocks, Savannah in the Round, and other festivals, he embarks on an arena tour later this month in support of Kip Moore, with international dates to follow, including the Cape Town Country Music Festival next month in South Africa.

To celebrate the signing, WMA today (Sept. 12) releases Johnston’s latest single, “Blame” — a song written and recorded in Nashville, and inspired by the night when he first met his now-wife Talia.

“I am very proud to welcome James Johnston to the Warner Music family and am incredibly excited to work together on the next phase of his career,” comments Dan Rosen, president of Warner Music Australasia in a statement.

“James has already achieved so much through his creativity and work ethic, winning fans around Australia and around the world. He has a unique talent and is an authentic singer and songwriter, and has the global country music world at his feet. We cannot wait to help him take his music to every corner of Australia and the globe.”

Adds James, “After I got to sit down and have a beer with Dan Rosen, met with Ben and Chris in Nashville, and got to shake hands with the wider Warner team, I knew I had found my people.” Next stop: “taking my music to the world.”

The new recruit won best new talent and best vocal collaboration (with Kaylee Bell) at the 2023
Tamworth Country Music Festival, and has nabbed nominations at the APRA Music Awards, QMAs and the 2023 Rolling Stone Australia Awards.