Morgan Wallen is surprising fans with a re-recorded version of an older fan favorite, announcing a song called “Spin You Around (1/24 Version)” coming out Thursday night (Jan. 25). While it’s a welcome treat for fans, Wallen is also attempting to thwart what he calls “the dark side of the music business.”
Via Instagram, Wallen explained, “I’m writing y’all from a duck hunting trip because I want to fill you in on something happening tonight. Back in 2014, I went to Florida to try my hand at making original music & songwriting for the first time. This led to a recording deal with a local investor & an artist management deal that I deeply regret. Unfortunately, I signed both deals without any legal representation.”
Wallen noted that they made 13 songs, saying, “Some were ok, most were terrible as I was just learning how to write in general & figuring it all out. I was not the only collaborator, so many of these songs were not my idea nor met my standards. We deemed 5 worthy-enough to make the Stand Alone EP which includes a fan-favorite, ‘Spin You Around.’”
The five-song Stand Alone EP was released in 2015 via Panacea Records.
Wallen continued: “Tonight, those colleagues I parted ways with almost 10 years ago plan to release a ’10th anniversary’ edition of Stand Alone against my wishes & include eight unreleased songs, distributing them with the assistance of my former managers. For months I’ve been exploring every avenue possible to acquire the rights to this old music & keep the quality of my catalog consistent with songs I choose to release & believe in.”
Wallen also called it “an example of how the dark side of the music business can suck the soul out of artists.”
Wallen emphasized: “I want you to know this is NOT my new music, & I don’t want to see this happen to anyone else. I cringe when I listen to these songs & I’m very concerned my fans may mistakenly believe this is a new release by me.”
To counteract the release of that 10th-anniversary project, Wallen recorded his own version of “Spin You Around” this week in Nashville, working with producer Joey Moi and instrumentalist Bryan Sutton. Moi has worked on all three of Wallen’s Big Loud label albums, including 2018’s If I Know Me, 2021’s Dangerous: The Double Album and 2023’s One Thing at a Time, while Sutton has offered his musicianship to of many of Wallen’s songs. Wallen signed with Big Loud in 2016.
Wallen also designed the artwork for the song in the woods while duck hunting.
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Additionally, Wallen noted he is donating $100,000 from the Morgan Wallen Foundation to the Volunteer Lawyers & Professionals for the Arts (VLPA) program.
“I hope young aspiring musicians read this story and know they should never have to give up their creative freedoms for an opportunity in this business,” he said, adding, “Trust me, when new music is ready, you’ll hear it directly from me.”
Wallen also told fans that he begins recording his next album at the end of February. “I’m feeling inspired creatively & super excited to make more music I’m proud of,” he said.
Read his full message below:
This story originally appeared on Billboard
