{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2025}} {{Infobox album | name = Free the Music | type = studio | artist = Jerrod Niemann | cover = FreetheMusic.jpg | alt = | released = {{Start date|2012|10|2}} | recorded = | studio = | genre = Country | length = 41:30 | label = Sea Gayle Music/Arista Nashville | producer = {{hlist|Dave Brainard|Jerrod Niemann}} | prev_title = Judge Jerrod & the Hung Jury | prev_year = 2010 | next_title = High Noon | next_year = 2014 | misc = {{Singles | name = Free the Music | type = studio | single1 = Shinin' on Me | single1date = April 9, 2012 | single2 = Only God Could Love You More | single2date = October 29, 2012 }} }} {{Music ratings | rev1 = Allmusic | rev1score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref name="allmusic">{{cite web|last=Erlewine|first=Stephen Thomas|title=''Free the Music'' review|url={{AllMusic|class=album|id=mw0002412005|pure_url=yes}}|work=Allmusic|accessdate=October 2, 2012}}</ref> }}
'''''Free the Music''''' is the fourth and second major-label studio album by American country music artist Jerrod Niemann. It was released on October 2, 2012, via Sea Gayle Music and Arista Nashville.<ref>{{cite news|last=Rantala|first=Caitlin|title=Niemann Announces Sophomore Album Release Date|url=http://www.musicrow.com/2012/06/niemann-announces-sophomore-album-release-date/|accessdate=September 6, 2012|newspaper=MusicRow|date=June 7, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Wyland|first=Sarah|title=Jerrod Niemann Reveals Album Cover for Free The Music|url=http://blog.gactv.com/blog/2012/08/13/jerrod-niemann-reveals-album-cover-for-free-the-music/|accessdate=September 6, 2012|newspaper=Great American Country|date=August 13, 2012}}</ref> Niemann co-produced the album and wrote or co-wrote all twelve tracks.<ref>{{cite news|last=Conaway|first=Alanna|title=Jerrod Niemann Reveals 'Free the Music' Cover and Track Listing|url=http://tasteofcountry.com/jerrod-niemann-free-the-music-cover-track-listing/|accessdate=September 6, 2012|newspaper=Taste of Country|date=August 11, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Darden|first=Beville|title=Jerrod Niemann - 'Free the Music' Cover, Track List Revealed|url=http://www.theboot.com/2012/08/10/jerrod-niemann-free-the-music-cover-track-list/|accessdate=September 6, 2012|newspaper=The Boot|date=August 10, 2012}}</ref> The album features a duet with Colbie Caillat, "All About You."<ref>{{cite news|last=Duvall|first=Erin|title=Jerrod Niemann, 'Free the Music' Album Due in October|url=http://www.theboot.com/2012/06/07/jerrod-niemann-free-the-music-album/|accessdate=September 6, 2012|newspaper=The Boot|date=June 7, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Wyland|first=Sarah|title=Jerrod Niemann to Release Free The Music on October 2|url=http://blog.gactv.com/blog/2012/06/07/jerrod-niemann-to-release-free-the-music-on-october-2/|accessdate=September 6, 2012|newspaper=Great American Country|date=June 7, 2012}}</ref>
==Track listing== {{Track listing | headline = ''Free the Music'' track listing | title1 = Free the Music | writer1 = Jerrod Niemann | length1 = 3:41 | title2 = Whiskey Kind of Way | writer2 = Niemann, Randy Boudreaux | length2 = 3:32 | title3 = Get On Up | writer3 = Niemann, J. R. McCoy, Jesse Clingan | length3 = 3:19 | title4 = I'll Have to Kill the Pain | writer4 = Niemann, McCoy, Arlos Smith | length4 = 3:25 | title5 = Only God Could Love You More | writer5 = Niemann, Jon Stone, Lee Brice | length5 = 3:29 | title6 = Shinin' on Me | writer6 = Niemann, Rob Hatch, Brice, Lance Miller | length6 = 3:14 | title7 = Honky Tonk Fever | writer7 = Niemann | length7 = 3:25 | title8 = Guessing Games | writer8 = Niemann, McCoy | length8 = 3:44 | title9 = It Won't Matter Anymore | writer9 = Niemann, Hatch, Miller | length9 = 2:49 | title10 = All About You | note10 = featuring Colbie Caillat | writer10 = Niemann, Richie Brown | length10 = 3:26 | title11 = Real Women Drink Beer | writer11 = Niemann, Houston Phillips | length11 = 3:11 | title12 = Fraction of a Man | writer12 = Niemann | length12 = 4:15 }}
==Personnel== * Dave Brainard – upright bass, bass guitar, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, harmonica, keyboards, percussion * Taryn Brainard – background vocals * Colbie Caillat – background vocals on "All About You" * Cliff Canterbury – background vocals * Devri DePriest – French horn * Will Doughty – piano, keyboards, Hammond B-3 organ * Dustin Evans – pitched beer bottles * John Christopher Hamm – trumpet * William Elliott – trombone * Chris Estes – reggae drums * Rob Hatch – background vocals * Byron House – upright bass * Bill Huber – tuba * Tim Lauer – accordion * David Mahurin – drums * J.R. McCoy – percussion, congas, finger snaps, hand claps * Lance Miller – background vocals * Travis Mobley – piano, Wurlitzer electric piano * Natalie Murphy – violin * Jerrod Niemann – acoustic guitar, lead vocals, background vocals * Tim Teague – acoustic B-bender guitar, electric guitar * Carl Utterstom – trombone * Karl Wingruber – saxophone, clarinet
==Chart performance== ===Album=== {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" |+ Chart performance for ''Free the Music'' ! Chart (2012) ! Peak<br>position |- ! scope="row"| US ''Billboard'' 200<ref name="billboard">{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com#/album/jerrod-niemann/free-the-music/1687279|title=Chart listing for ''Free The Music''|magazine=Billboard|accessdate=October 11, 2012}}</ref> | align="center"| 62 |- ! scope="row"| US ''Billboard'' Top Country Albums<ref name="billboard" /> | align="center"| 9 |}
===Singles=== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |+ Chart performance for singles from ''Free the Music'' ! rowspan="2"| Year ! rowspan="2"| Title ! colspan="3"| Peak chart positions |- style="font-size:smaller;" ! width="45"| US Country ! width="45"| US Country Airplay ! width="45"| US |- | rowspan="2"| 2012 ! scope="row"| "Shinin' on Me" | 17 | 17 | 92 |- ! scope="row"| "Only God Could Love You More" | 38 | 29 | — |- | colspan="5" style="font-size:85%"| "—" denotes releases that did not chart |}
==References== {{reflist}}
{{Jerrod Niemann}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:2012 albums Category:Jerrod Niemann albums Category:Arista Records albums Category:Albums produced by Dave Brainard