Zach Bryan Shares Royalties With Former Commander
The country singer will give his former Navy commanding officer a percentage of royalties from every song he releases.
Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Country
Country singer Zach Bryan has agreed to give his former Navy commanding officer, Leo Alba, a percentage of royalties from every song he releases. Bryan discussed the gesture in a two-hour On the Porch podcast interview with Matthew McConaughey.
Why it matters
Bryan says Alba's encouragement to record a full album while he was still enlisted meant a great deal to him. The arrangement highlights the personal ties between artists and the mentors who shaped their early careers.
The Young Manhood & Other Donatable Organs EP debuted at No. 1 on Billboard's Top Country Albums chart and No. 2 on the Billboard 200 in its first week. The royalty percentage paid to Alba has not been disclosed.
The players
Zach Bryan
Zach Bryan is an Oklahoma-born country singer-songwriter who served in the Navy before becoming a major figure in contemporary country and Americana music.
Leo Alba
Leo Alba is Bryan's former Navy commanding officer who encouraged him to pursue recording a full album while still enlisted.
Matthew McConaughey
Matthew McConaughey is an Academy Award-winning actor who hosts the On the Porch podcast, where he interviewed Bryan.
The details
Bryan joined the Navy at age 17 and served on active duty from 2013 until an honorable discharge in 2021. Alba encouraged him to record a full album while still enlisted, and Bryan's debut album DeAnn was released in 2019 with Alba's help.
Timeline
2013: Bryan begins active duty service in the Navy.
2019: Bryan's debut album DeAnn is released with Alba's help.
2021: Bryan receives an honorable discharge from the Navy.
October 2026: Bryan sits for the McConaughey On the Porch interview and the Young Manhood & Other Donatable Organs EP is released.
Industry Dynamics
Country music has a long tradition of veterans like Bryan drawing on military service in their songwriting and public personas. Bryan's royalty arrangement with Alba adds an unusual, ongoing financial dimension to a mentorship relationship within that tradition.
Listeners can stream the Young Manhood & Other Donatable Organs EP, which features a duet with Lana Del Rey on 'Lies' and the Turnpike Troubadours on 'Plainsman'. The release is also available as a companion book.
The takeaway
Artists often carry the influence of early mentors long after their careers take off, and formal gestures like royalty sharing can make that gratitude concrete. Readers interested in military-linked songwriting can follow the broader country music coverage on this site.
Further reading
Explore more Country music coverage to see how artists like Bryan are shaping the genre.
