Craig Wiseman Talks Big Loud Rebranding, Working With Big Loud Writers

In 2003, songwriter Craig Wiseman, primarily known at the time for songs including Tim McGraw’s “The Cowboy In Me” and “Everywhere,” and Kenny Chesney’s “The Good Stuff,” launched his own startup publishing company, Big Loud Shirt. The then-fledgling publishing company’s first boost came in June 2004 when Tim McGraw released Wiseman’s “Live Like You Were Dying” to country radio. The song would earn Song of the Year honors from the Nashville Songwriters Association International, Country Music Association, Academy of Country Music, and the Recording Academy.

A multitude of songs followed, including Brooks & Dunn’s “Believe,” Blake Shelton’s “Boys Round Here,” and more. Wiseman was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2015.

In the years that followed, Big Loud has diversified, adding management, recording and a newly-announced venture capital division in a move inspired by Wiseman’s involvement in his now songwriter, Sarah Buxton. Shortly after the expansion, Big Loud signed artists including superstars Florida Georgia line to their management and publishing divisions, and are currently working at breaking artists including Chris Lane, Morgan Wallen and Jillian Jacqueline at Big Loud Records.

Wiseman and his fellow Big Loud partners Seth England, Joey Moi, Kevin “Chief” Zaruk and Big Loud Records president Clay Hunnicutt recently announced the rebranding of Big Loud, consolidating the company’s publishing, recording, management and newly-announced capital venture under the Big Loud moniker.

“Everybody kind of called it Big Loud anyway,” Wiseman says. “We thought we should just go with it.”

Along with the rebranding comes a simplified version of Big Loud Shirt’s iconic Hawaiian shirt logo, which Wiseman says was created by his wife KK.

“She did our first logo and we liked that font and we liked that font and pop of red. Nothing crazy, just simple. That has served us well. It is kind of nice and simple and it’s pretty much stayed the same. We kind of kept is simple and close to the original.”

Craig Wiseman. Photo: Delaney Royer

The Big Loud publishing roster includes Brian Kelley, Chris Lane, Cameron Montgomery (with Tree Vibez Music), Chris Tompkins, Wiseman, Joey Moi, Matt Dragstrem, Morgan Wallen, Rodney Clawson, Sarah Buxton, The Warren Brothers, and Tyler Hubbard.

Big Loud’s publishing arm celebrated a new signing in Jamie Moore this year, who jointly signed to Big Loud’s publishing and management arms. Moore is a Muscle Shoals, Alabama, native who has had success with Florida Georgia Line’s hit featuring Tim McGraw, “May We All,” which Moore co-wrote with fellow Big Loud songwriter Rodney Clawson.

“Jamie and Chris Tompkins knew each other back in Muscle Shoals, Alabama,” Wiseman notes. “He’s a great guy and we all liked writing with him. Blake [Shelton] just cut something me and Jamie wrote on his new record.”

Moore has also contributed songs on albums from Carrie Underwood, Chris Lane, The Swon Brothers, and Christian artists Mandisa and TobyMac, including his 2013 hit, “Speak Life.” Moore has also contributed background vocals, piano and string arrangements to several of TobyMac’s projects.

“He’s a very spiritual guy, and depending on his cowriters, he can write with Rodney and do a song for Blake Shelton on Tuesday, and then write with one of his Christian co-writers and win a Christian Grammy.”

Other Big Loud successes in the past year include Jason Aldean’s “Lights Come On,” co-written by Brad and Brett Warren, Tyler Hubbard and Brian Kelley. Wiseman penned Blake Shelton’s “Came Here To Forget,” while Chris Lane earned his first No. 1 song with “Fix.” Clawson also co-wrote Luke Bryan’s “Fast.”

Big Loud also announced the re-signing of writers Clawson and Buxton. Buxton first signed with Big Loud in 2012; among her hits are Keith Urban’s “Stupid Boy,” which also appeared on her 2010 self-titled album for Lyric Street. She also penned Sara Evans’ “Slow Me Down,” “Florida Georgia Line’s “Sun Daze,” Chris Lane’s “Fix,” and more.

Back in 2007, Buxton released her own album, Almost My Record, for Lyric Street. Wiseman was one of the producers on the project.

“It went through the record label, and it was kind of a comedy of errors, but that happens,” Wiseman recalls. “I kind of realized I don’t want to get this invested in a project I don’t have control over again. A few years ago she wanted to change publishing so she came over. Of course she does great as a writer and frankly I would love to do an EP on Sarah, and we’ve talked about it some,” says Wiseman. “I think she’s a world-class singer and I still totally see her having a life as a singer, if not becoming a huge star. But she is balancing being a writer and mother and all of that.”

Now, ten years later, the popularity of streaming and downloading have shifted the industry’s economics, making it easier for many artists and songwriters to take their music directly to fans.

“We are getting to a spot where you can release an album and you don’t have to do so much of the old-school thing. You know, you have to do radio promotion; you have to do these straight-up country approach. Also, producer guys have their own rigs and it doesn’t cost $25,000 to cut a record. You don’t have to sell half a million to break even. It’s definitely a whole new world now.”