- Kirk Franklin signed an exclusive global partnership with Uptown Records in conjunction with his Fo Yo Soul Entertainment imprint and TRIBL Music Group.
- The announcement coincides with the release of Franklin’s single and music video for "Thank You for Everything," featuring Karen Clark Sheard.
- Franklin retains his existing management team at Fo Yo Soul Entertainment and his worldwide booking agency WME.
- The move transitions the 20-time Grammy winner from his longtime home at RCA Inspiration to a revitalized urban roster featuring Yung Miami and G Herbo.
Twenty-time Grammy Award winner Kirk Franklin has signed a worldwide recording agreement with Uptown Records. The partnership brings together Franklin’s Fo Yo Soul Entertainment label and TRIBL Music Group.
To celebrate the new deal, Franklin released the official music video for his latest single, “Thank You for Everything,” featuring gospel legend Karen Clark Sheard of The Clark Sisters.
Franklin keeps his core team intact under the new agreement. WME continues to handle his worldwide booking and live performances, while Franklin manages his career via Fo Yo Soul Entertainment.
Franklin first achieved mainstream prominence on GospoCentric Records, releasing the first gospel debut album to earn platinum certification. He later spent over a decade releasing chart-topping records through a joint venture with RCA Inspiration.
For Uptown Records, adding Franklin comes as the label celebrates its 40th anniversary under the Republic Collective. Founded in 1986 by Andre Harrell, the revived imprint has recently signed notable mainstream acts including Yung Miami, G Herbo, and Trap Dickey.
The deal reflects a broader trend of cross-genre label shifts in 2026. Franklin’s signing mirrors how Elle Limebear signed with Decca Records to give contemporary faith music a home on a mainstream roster.
Franklin enters this new chapter with strong momentum. He recently completed the nationwide “Reunion Tour” alongside Fred Hammond and The Clark Sisters, following his acclaimed 2023 studio album Father’s Day.
Takeaways
Kirk Franklin signing with Uptown Records places one of modern gospel’s biggest pioneers squarely inside a legendary hip-hop and R&B powerhouse.
Uptown established its legacy by popularizing New Jack Swing and street-level soul, while Franklin spent thirty years proving that choir arrangements and gospel lyrics can dominate urban radio and major pop stages.
Partnering with a secular urban imprint under Universal’s Republic Collective, rather than staying strictly inside a specialized Christian music group, gives Franklin immediate access to mainstream playlists, contemporary urban programmers, and major secular collaborators.
At the same time, Uptown gets a proven icon whose catalog commands immense multi-generational loyalty and high-volume streaming numbers.
Will Uptown Records build a dedicated faith-and-culture division around Franklin’s Fo Yo Soul roster? How will working within a hip-hop and R&B-focused label shape the sound and guest features of Franklin’s next album?
