Kenny Chesney Sells 80% Of His Music Catalog

Author Nancy Brooks // Country Writer, Beasley Media Group

January 19th, 2022 10:36 AM

Kenny Chesney has sold 80 % of his music catalog for an undisclosed amount to British investment company Hipgnosis Song Management.

According to a press release, Hipgnosis now owns his stake in songs dating from 1994 debut album In My Wildest Dreams to 2017 release Live In No Shoes Nation, Chesney’s last release before signing with Warner Music Nashville. The deal includes 22 albums, plus rights to future greatest hits, live albums, and acoustic releases.

Kenny said in the release, “To know that this music has a home that views the work as a collective body, something that builds on itself and captures the heart of No Shoes Nation, was important to me. How these songs live going forward is critical, and I believe Merck [Mercuriadis, Hipgnosis founder] has the best interests of not just the recordings but the people who love them as his driving interest.” Mercuriadis is an industry power player who has managed Beyonce, Elton John and Iron Maiden, among others.

He added, “For the people who love these songs and albums, this is a scenario that allows the music to grow and reflect who those of us living inside these songs truly are.”

Kenny Chesney’s 20 Best Songs, Ranked

• Kenny Chesney’s Top 20 Songs, Ranked

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  20. "Everybody Wants to Go to Heaven" with the Wallers (2008) - The song was initially to have been recorded by George Strait for his 2008 album ‘Troubadour,’ but after Strait decided not to include the song on this album, it was recorded by Kenny Chesney instead.

• Kenny Chesney’s Top 20 Songs, Ranked

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  19. "Come Over" (2012) - It was written by Sam Hunt, Shane McAnally, and Josh Osborne.

• Kenny Chesney’s Top 20 Songs, Ranked

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  18. "El Cerrito Place" (2012) – A solid story song originally recorded by Charlie Robison; Kenny put it on his 2012 album Welcome to the Fishbowl.
• Kenny Chesney’s Top 20 Songs, Ranked

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  17. "American Kids" (2014) – Chesney heard the song during a writers' retreat with Mac McAnally, and said, "It was unlike anything I'd ever heard... it just grabs you and holds on, but even more importantly, it feels really good.”

• Kenny Chesney’s Top 20 Songs, Ranked

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  16. "Wild Child" (featuring Grace Potter) (2015) – The song finds its narrator falling for a strong and independent woman, whose spirit is free and whose nature is rebellious.

• Kenny Chesney’s Top 20 Songs, Ranked

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  15. "Setting the World on Fire" (with Pink) (2016) – A great collaboration with Pink, it was nominated for the Best Country Duo/Group Performance at the 2017 Grammy Awards.
• Kenny Chesney’s Top 20 Songs, Ranked

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  14. "Everything's Gonna Be Alright" (with David Lee Murphy) (2017) – A collaboration between two longtime friends, it reached number one on the US Billboard Country Airplay chart, becoming Murphy's first number one since 1995's "Dust on the Bottle."

• Kenny Chesney’s Top 20 Songs, Ranked

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  13. "The Good Stuff" (2002) – Simply a classic. The song became Chesney's fifth number one hit on the US Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks charts, At the time, it was also his longest-lasting number one, having spent seven weeks at that position.

• Kenny Chesney’s Top 20 Songs, Ranked

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  12. "No Shoes, No Shirt, No Problems" (2003) – A song so good he named his fanbase – the No Shoes Nation – after it.
• Kenny Chesney’s Top 20 Songs, Ranked

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  11. "When I Close My Eyes" (1996) – Already having been recorded by a couple of under-the-radar country artists, Chesney recorded it on his 1996 album, ‘Me and You.’

• Kenny Chesney’s Top 20 Songs, Ranked

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  10. "Feel Like a Rock Star" (featuring Tim McGraw) (2011) – Friends for years since they both first came to Nashville; this was a great teaming of McGraw and Chesney.

• Kenny Chesney’s Top 20 Songs, Ranked

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  9. "Shiftwork" (featuring George Strait) (2007)– It’s hard not to love anything with George Strait’s name attached and this is just a solid song. It was released in December 2007 as the third single from Chesney's 2007 album, Just Who I Am: Poets & Pirates.
• Kenny Chesney’s Top 20 Songs, Ranked

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  8. "Happy Does" (2020) - One of Kenney’s latest singles from his Here and Now album, it’s the perfect song to brighten your mood.

• Kenny Chesney’s Top 20 Songs, Ranked

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  7. "Here and Now" (2020) – Kenny was right on the money when he said of this song, “The chorus is everything I feel about my time on stage... the rush of it absolutely being the best place, best moment in the entire world. There’s no rush like it...It says everything about how we all put off living our lives because there’s so much other stuff to do."

• Kenny Chesney’s Top 20 Songs, Ranked

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  6. "The Boys of Fall" (2010) - The song is about playing high school football, and Chesney says it "is a perfect description of how I grew up and where I grew up." That would be near Knoxville, Tennessee and UT football.
• Kenny Chesney’s Top 20 Songs, Ranked

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  5. "She Thinks My Tractor's Sexy" (1999) - The song that brought him to the dance of country music stardom and had a big part in kicking off his huge career.

• Kenny Chesney’s Top 20 Songs, Ranked

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  4. "How Forever Feels" (1998) - Chesney said at the time that he almost didn't get to release the song because Tim McGraw had recorded a version. McGraw decided not to release it, and after Chesney's version hit number-one, McGraw told him "I'm glad you cut it. It just didn't work for me."

• Kenny Chesney’s Top 20 Songs, Ranked

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  3. "You Had Me from Hello" (1999) – Kenny saw the movie Jerry Maguire and in one of the film's most memorable scenes at the end of the movie, Tom Cruise's title character gives out a heartfelt talk to Renée Zellweger's character, tearfully saying, "You had me at 'hello.'" Chesney liked that line and decided to write a song based on it.
• Kenny Chesney’s Top 20 Songs, Ranked

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  2. "You and Tequila" (featuring Grace Potter) (2011) – A classic and a beautiful song. The song received two nominations in 54th Grammy Awards for Best Country Song and Best Country Duo/Group Performance.

• Kenny Chesney’s Top 20 Songs, Ranked

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  1. "The Tin Man" (1994) – The ballad is about a brokenhearted man who wishes that he were the Tin Woodman so that he "wouldn't have a heart" and thus not feel the emotions that he is feeling.

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Author Nancy Brooks // Country Writer, Beasley Media Group

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Kenny Chesney