Valory Music Co. President George Briner Announces Retirement: ‘I Truly Have Loved Every Minute’

George Briner is retiring from his role as president of The Valory Music Co, the Nashville executive announced Monday (Feb. 9).

At Valory Music, Briner, who’s retiring after more than 18 years with the company and over four decades in country music, has overseen the release of numerous platinum and multi-platinum-certified albums and spearheaded marketing and promotion strategies for artists including Thomas Rhett, Justin Moore, Sheryl Crow, RaeLynn, Aaron Lewis, Preston Cooper and Mackenzie Carpenter. During his career, Briner has served in various roles in radio and at multiple record labels.

“What a ride, in short, since I stepped into the country music world in 1984 working as the Promotion Director at KZLA/Los Angeles, to this day as I step away from my role as President at The Valory Music Co.,” wrote Briner in his retirement message to Big Machine Label Group (BMLG) and The Valory Music Co. staff. “There are so many chapters, so much incredible music and so many artists I have had the privilege to be associated with, not to mention all the people that I have had the honor of working with and getting to know.

“I truly have loved every minute!” he continued. “From KZLA, Warner Bros., Giant Records, Magnatone, Curb Universal, DreamWorks, MCA, BNA and the last eighteen years with Valory. I have so many people to thank, especially Audra, my wife, who has supported me on this journey (we finally get to take those trips we have talked about), the Valory family and those at BMLG, all who have been a part of this amazing chapter. And thank you, Scott Borchetta, for your leadership, passion, belief in me and — most importantly — friendship.”

BMLG founder, chairman and CEO Scott Borchetta added in a statement, “George Briner has been my brother, friend, and colleague for more years than either of us care to mention. He is and will always be the consummate ‘record guy’. He loves turning people onto artists and music and, generally, just loves people. It has been my true honor and pleasure to fight these battles and win these wars and reach the top of the mountain with him so many times. From our Toby Keith No. 1’s at DreamWorks to our latest Thomas Rhett No. 1’s at Valory, and everything in between, he’s led the charge and truly became one of the GOATs. Country music is better because of George Briner.”