Maggie Antone signs a record deal with Island Records after going it alone

Maggie Antone has signed to Island Records, and she was candid about the trade-off in doing so. The singer said partnering with Island felt serendipitous, and that while it is bittersweet to no longer be an independent artist, she feels more independent than ever.

That independence is what made her worth signing. Antone released her debut album Rhinestoned in 2024 on Big Love, her own label, and its opening track Johnny Moonshine has since passed 12 million Spotify streams without a major behind it. Her sound blends country, Americana and pop, and her writing has been picked up on its honesty rather than a radio format.

2024 was the year the live side caught up. She toured with 49 Winchester, Trampled by Turtles and Kat Hasty, and made her Grand Ole Opry debut, which for an unsigned artist working in her lane is a meaningful marker.

She kept the pace in 2025 with festival appearances at ACL Fest, Windy City Smokeout and Under the Big Sky, and released the song The Devil's Not In Hell. Coverage from People, Billboard, Holler and Rough Trade followed, most of it centred on the emotional directness of the writing.

Island framed the signing in those terms. Jackie Winkler, head of artists and repertoire, described Antone as a rare kind of artist, an excellent songwriter with a distinct voice and a deep understanding of who she is. Justin Eshak and Imran Majid, the label's co-chairmen and chief executives, said she had built an authentic connection with her fans on her own terms.

Her next dates keep her on the circuit that got her here. Antone plays Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion in Bristol, Tennessee on 13 September, followed by the State Fair of Texas in Dallas on 13 October. The signing is one of the more notable independent-to-major moves in country this year.