Ft. Worth native and surging traditional country star Cody Jinks has announced that he’s signed with independent music juggernaut Rounder Records, and will be releasing his latest album Lifers on July 27. A new single “Must Be The Whiskey” will be out June 15th.

Part of the Concord Music Group, Rounder is a massive label, yet still with an independent streak, so Jinks will retain all creative control of his music. Rounder Records recently appointed music lawyer John Strohm as President, who is known for working with Sturgill Simpson, and was also Cody’s lawyer previously. Concord also owns other independent labels with mainstream impact such as Sugar Hill, Stax, and Vanguard Records.

“When I became the President of Rounder in the Fall of 2017, I’d already been involved in Cody’s career for a couple years. I’m well aware of his immense talent, personal integrity, and work ethic.” says John Strohm, “It’s been my top priority since I started my job last fall to sign Cody, and I could not be more thrilled for Rounder and Concord Music to have the opportunity to work with such an incredible, groundbreaking artist.”

Cody Jinks had previously announced the title of the new album in late January with a banner on his Facebook page promising the new album “No later than June 2018.” But bigger opportunities beckoned, and brought Jinks into the label fold after self-releasing his records previously, as well as working with Thirty Tigers on his last record, 2016’s I’m Not The Devil.

Since then, Cody Jinks has been setting the world on fire in traditional country music. I’m Not The Devil has now sold over 68,000 copies, and Jinks was able to sell out the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville on two consecutive nights last October. Overall, Cody Jinks has sold over 225,000 records independently. This has put Cody Jinks on the footing of being one of the biggest acts from the Texas music world who could explode nationally.

“I set out to find a great partner to license my new album to—a record company that believed in my music and my vision, “ says Jinks about signing with the new label. “I definitely found that with Rounder Records.”

Cody Jinks will also stay partnered with Thirty Tigers, who will be re-issuing all of his previous records, and will manage his back catalog. That means Cody will have the muscle of two record companies working behind-the-scenes to promote his music. “In all my years of doing this, I can’t remember an act whose organic growth has happened so explosively,” says Dave Macias of Thirty Tigers. “It’s a testament to the artist and his palpable honesty, but also to his amazing team who pull all the right levers at the right time. It’s an honor to fight for his body of work so far, and I predict that upon the release of the new album, his trajectory will continue at the same explosive pace.”

READ: 2018 Will Be The Year of Cody Jinks

Managed by Arthur Penhallow, Cody Jinks is part of a larger management strategy to build support around numerous traditional country artists in his stable. Penhallow also manages Whitey Morgan, Sunny Sweeney, Ward Davis, Blue Water Highway, and previously managed Bob Seger. In March Penhallow acquired CTK Entertainment to form True Grit Entertainment, which acts as a booking and management apparatus behind his artists.

Cody Jinks also announced earlier this year that he will be throwing his own music festival called Loud and Heavy in August, with a currently-unannounced lineup of 10 other acts, and taking place in a large venue in the area. Expect more news on Loud and Heavy, as well as more details on the 11-song Lifers coming soon.