Kobalt�announced today the renewal of its worldwide publishing agreement with country star�Mae Estes. Estes, who struck her first publishing deal with�Plaid Flag Music/Kobalt�in 2020, has already racked up more than 13 million streams across all DSPs and millions more across social platforms as an independent artist.
The Arkansas native signed a global recording deal with�Big Machine�last fall, and is currently in the studio in Nashville working on new music.
�Mae is one of the most exciting new artists to come onto the scene in a very long time,� said Stephanie Cox, General Manager/Senior Vice President of Creative at Kobalt Nashville. �She�s such an authentic songwriter and an important new voice in country music. We�re so happy that Kobalt will remain her home for this exciting new phase of her career.�
Estes got�her start at age 7 in the middle of an Arkansas rodeo arena, singing the national anthem. Paying dues in Music City for nearly a decade, <a href="she�s now stacked with stories to tell. In 2019, Estes began releasing music, and a year later, signed her first publishing deal with Plaid Flag Music/Kobalt.
�Thinkin’ ‘Bout Cheatin�� became the first single from her debut EP as well as her first video feature on CMT in 2022. That following year, Estes independently released her debut EP, �Before the Record,” a six-song project produced by hit songwriter Paul Sikes. That same year, Mae was named Arkansas CMA Female Vocalist of the Year for the third time.�
�From the very first moment I heard Mae�s voice to the moment I realized what an incredible human <a href="she was – I knew Stephanie Cox was the perfect partner and teammate for Mae,� said Kendall Warren, Mae�s manager. �We are lucky to have Stephanie leading the charge with Mae�s publishing – Stephanie�s the best in the business.�
�When I first got to Nashville, I learned quickly that it was important to find my champions in the music industry and I�m unbelievably grateful to have done just that in partnering with Kendall Warren and Stephanie Cox,� said Estes. �Kendall and I have so much respect and appreciation for Stephanie and the rest of the incredible Kobalt team.
I�m ecstatic to be able to continue to create honest country music I believe in surrounded by some of the best professionals (and humans in general) Music City has to offer.�
Estes is currently on tour with her own dates, as well as opening slots for Jamey Johnson, Dierks Bentley and Lainey Wilson.