Thomas Rhett has launched Fifty-One/Forty-Nine Records in partnership with HYBE America’s Nashville-based Blue Highway Records, creating a new artist-led home for his recorded music.
A new label built around artist ownership
The partnership was announced October 6, 2026. Music Business Worldwide reports that the label will serve as the home for Rhett’s recorded music and is being positioned around long-term ownership, creative independence and artist development.
Rhett said the arrangement gives him an opportunity to own the body of work he has spent his career creating. Financial terms and the detailed ownership structure of the new company were not disclosed.
Why the structure is notable
Major artists increasingly want more control over masters, release strategy and the long-term value of their catalogs. A partnership model can give an established artist access to label infrastructure while creating a clearer path to ownership than a traditional recording agreement.
For HYBE America and Blue Highway, the deal also strengthens an artist-first positioning in Nashville. Blue Highway is the rebranded country, Americana and roots division that emerged from HYBE America’s former Big Machine Label Group structure.
What it could mean for future artist-label deals
Rhett’s scale makes the partnership especially visible. Blue Highway credits him with 25 No. 1 singles and more than 16 billion streams. When an artist at that level emphasizes ownership and creative independence, it adds pressure on the broader market to offer more flexible structures.
The next question will be how Fifty-One/Forty-Nine develops beyond Rhett’s own releases. If the company expands into signing or developing other artists, it could become a more significant new player in the Nashville label ecosystem.
Source: Music Business Worldwide.