John Mayer Launches Sob Rock Records With Mercury for First New Solo Music in Five Years

John Mayer has started his own record label, Sob Rock Records, in partnership with Universal Music's Mercury Records, and will release his first new solo single in five years, "Tom and Jerry," on Friday.

Mayer announced the move Thursday. The label shares its name with "Sob Rock," the last album he released for Sony before parting ways with the company in 2022. No new album has been announced yet.

"Working with Tyler Arnold and the talented team at Mercury Records has already proven to be a great partnership," Mayer said in a statement. "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."

Arnold, Mercury's chairman-CEO, matched the enthusiasm. "John Mayer is one of the greatest artists of all time," Arnold said, "and I couldn't be prouder to welcome him to Mercury 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."

When and how does the single arrive?

"Tom and Jerry" reaches streaming services at midnight as Thursday turns into Friday. Listeners to Mayer's SiriusXM channel, Life With John Mayer, get a preview throughout the day Thursday.

The credits carry familiar names. Blake Slatkin produced the song with Mayer. Serban Genhea mixed it. The recording took place at Chaplin Studios — the Hollywood lot that began as Charlie Chaplin's studio, later became home to A&M and then Henson Studios, and was purchased by Mayer and the film director McG in one of the guitarist's biggest undertakings of recent years. The two shared their experience of taking over the studio with Variety at the start of 2026.

What does this change for Mayer's career?

It marks a decisive turn back toward his solo recording career after several years focused on his role as co-frontman of Dead & Company, where he served as primary designer of the group's residencies at Sphere in 2024 and 2025. Mayer signaled at the beginning of this year that new studio recordings were in progress, having stayed quiet on a recording home since leaving Sony in 2022.

The label launch pairs with an unusually large live commitment. Mayer has concerts booked at Sphere in Las Vegas from April 8 through June 12 next year, each in a format that splits his performances into separate sets with his full band, with the John Mayer Trio and as a solo performer.

What does this change for the artist's standing? Owning his label while keeping a major-label distribution partner gives Mayer control of his recordings at a moment when he has already proven his drawing power at one of the world's most demanding venues. With a single out Friday, a new label operating and nearly three months of Sphere shows ahead, the next chapter Arnold promised now has a firm timetable.