Vanessa Nakate to Open Giving Black Conference 2026 With Climate Justice Keynote
1 week ago
United States Mat Kearney is an American singer-songwriter known for his distinctive blend of hip-hop and folk-pop, with five top 20 hits on the Adult Top 40 Chart.
Interested in booking Mat Kearney?
Request A ShowMat Kearney released albums in partnership with Aware Records, a label that developed artists such as John Mayer, Train, and Five for Fighting. This partnership signifies early career development and access to a broader audience during his major label affiliations.
Kearney released albums, including 'Nothing Left to Lose' and 'City of Black & White', through Columbia Records, a major label. This collaboration provided significant distribution and promotional support for his music.
His album 'Young Love' was released through Universal Republic, another major record label, further expanding his reach and commercial success.
In December 2016, Mat Kearney signed with Big Loud Mountain Management, an independent music company. This partnership indicates a strategic move in his career management.
Mat Kearney, along with Will Hoge, brought MLS hype to Live On The Green, a festival demonstrating soccer's integration with Nashville's music scene through a partnership between Live On The Green and NSC.
After previous major label engagements, Kearney signed with indie label Caroline, signifying a shift in his recording and distribution approach.
In Nashville, Mat Kearney collaborated with the band The Brook and The Bluff, who played on several songs.
Mat Kearney was featured in 'Southwest Airlines Live at 35', an article discussing his performance experience.
Mathew William Kearney was born on December 1, 1978, in Eugene, Oregon. He grew up there with his two brothers and was an active soccer player at South Eugene High School. Kearney continued his soccer career at California State University, Chico, on an athletic scholarship, where he also pursued a literature major. His initial exposure to music came when he traveled to Nashville with producer Robert Marvin. Despite limited prior musical experience, Kearney began writing his own songs after realizing he was not proficient at covering existing ones. This period marked a turning point, as he started developing a unique style that combined simple guitar work with spoken word and rap elements.
Kearney’s career solidified after relocating to Nashville, Tennessee, at Marvin’s suggestion. In 2004, he released his debut album, “Bullet,” on Inpop Records. His significant breakthrough occurred with the release of “Nothing Left to Lose” on April 18, 2006, which included reworked tracks from his first album alongside new material. This album achieved commercial success, selling over 450,000 copies, and its title track peaked at No. 41 on the Billboard Hot 100, subsequently earning numerous BMI awards. During 2005-2007, Kearney toured extensively with prominent artists such as John Mayer, Sheryl Crow, and Train, further establishing his presence in the music scene. He also headlined VH1’s inaugural “You Oughta Know Tour” in early 2007, broadening his audience.
His album “City of Black & White” was released through Columbia Records in May 2009, debuting at No. 13 on the Billboard 200. This was followed by “Young Love” in August 2011, which reached No. 4 on the Billboard 200 and No. 1 on the Top Rock Albums chart. Kearney continued to release new music, including “Just Kids” in February 2015 and “Crazytalk” in May 2018. In December 2016, he signed with Big Loud Mountain Management, indicating growth in his career management. His music has been featured in various television series, including “Grey’s Anatomy” and “NCIS.” In 2019, Kearney released “The City of Black and White Revisited” EP to commemorate the ten-year anniversary of its original release, followed by “January Flower” in 2021 and his self-titled album “Mat Kearney” in 2024.
Curious about our offerings or have inquiries? We're eager to assist!
Just complete the form, and we'll respond promptly.
