John Mayer signs with Mercury and launches Sob Rock Records ahead of new single
Mayer’s new label partners with Mercury Records as he prepares to release “Tom and Jerry,” his first solo single since 2021.
John Mayer announced on Oct. 22 that he has signed with Mercury Records and launched his own label, Sob Rock Records, in partnership with it. The deal puts a new label behind his next solo release, “Tom and Jerry,” scheduled for Oct. 23.
The single would be Mayer’s first solo release since his 2021 album Sob Rock, according to Billboard. That album, which reached No. 2 on the Billboard 200, also gives the new label its name, The Hollywood Reporter reported.
What Mayer said about Sob Rock Records
Mayer said in a statement that working with Mercury chairman and CEO Tyler Arnold and the label’s team had “already proven to be a great partnership.” He added: “The path from creative vision to execution has never been easier or more rewarding. I feel very inspired, and I’m excited for what’s to come.” Billboard reported that Arnold signed Mayer to Mercury.
Arnold said Mercury was pleased to welcome Mayer and work with Sob Rock Records. “We’re excited to be part of his next chapter and to partner with his label, Sob Rock Records, to help bring his creative vision to life,” he said in a statement reported by both outlets. Mercury is part of Universal Music Group, The Hollywood Reporter reported.
Why the Mercury deal marks a change
The move follows Mayer’s departure from Columbia Records, the label that released Sob Rock. Mayer said in 2022 that he had decided not to renew his recording agreement with Columbia, Billboard reported. The Hollywood Reporter said Columbia had signed him in the early 2000s and released his albums through that departure. The new partnership is therefore his first announced label arrangement since leaving the company that had released his albums for roughly two decades.
Mayer had also been working on another record. In an earlier interview with The Hollywood Reporter, he said he was putting his time and energy into making it so he would have something to present when he returned. Neither announcement gave a release date for that album. The immediate release on the calendar is “Tom and Jerry,” due Friday, Oct. 23.
Live shows are on Mayer’s calendar too. Billboard reported that he is scheduled for 21 shows at Sphere in Las Vegas from April through June 2027, with performances planned in solo, live-band and trio formats. He previously performed there with Dead & Company in 2024 and 2025, Billboard said. The residency places the Mercury announcement ahead of an already scheduled run of performances, though the label statements did not describe how the shows relate to the deal.
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Sources and context
- John Mayer Signs With Mercury RecordsBillboard
- John Mayer Launches New Record Label Sob Rock RecordsThe Hollywood Reporter
AI-assisted article checked against the listed sources. NewsJaws did not conduct interviews or attend the reported events.