Universal Music Group Nashville has launched a comedy label, with the first release coming from Nashville-based comedian Nate Bargatze.

Capitol Comedy Nashville will kick off with Bargatze’s Hello, World, out Friday (Sept. 15) on digital service providers (DSPs). The Grammy-nominated Bargatze has released several specials on streaming outlets, including Hello, World, which premiered on Amazon’s Prime Video earlier this year. Bargatze, who The Atlantic dubbed “the nicest man in stand-up,” recently sold out the Greek Theater in Los Angeles and drew more than 30,000 fans to his shows in Chicago. 

“Country music and comedy have always had a throughline connecting lifestyle and culture, sharing stories and character habits through humor,” said UMG Nashville chair/CEO Cindy Mabe in a statement. “We’ve been forever linked going back to the early days of the Grand Ole Opry and classic country shows like Hee Haw where comedians shared billings with musical acts and helped us laugh at ourselves. As we are looking for further ways to reach audiences through storytelling, I feel there is no better time to re-link our comedy history together with the start of our new label, Capitol Comedy Nashville.  

“Nate is an amazing storyteller who uses his own hysterical anecdotes from his life to connect with audiences everywhere,” Mabe continued. “Through his unassuming, self-deprecating humor, Nate has built an incredible fanbase with his stand-up comedy and he most recently broke attendance records in Nashville at the Bridgestone Arena. We are so excited to welcome Nate to our label, and we can’t wait to grow the next era of storytelling through comedy.” 

Bargatze intends to create an outlet for other comedians at Capitol Comedy Nashville. 

“I have wanted to expand not only my comedy but also build a world with the many talented comedians I know,” he said. “This partnership is one of the first steps and I’m very thankful to have a guide and platform with Universal Music Group Nashville.”