State Champ Radio Big Machine Label Group
Big Machine Label Group revealed the next chapter of its BMLG Records imprint, which has rebranded as Nashville Harbor Records & Entertainment. The imprint was initially founded as a joint venture in 2009 as Republic Nashville; in 2015, Big Machine Label Group took full ownership of the imprint and renamed it BMLG Records. Nashville Harbor […]
Big Machine Label Group has promoted two executives, with Mike Rittberg rising to COO and Clay Hunnicutt rising to executive vp of label operations. Both are already in their new roles and report to Big Machine Label Group president of label operations Andrew Kautz. Rittberg most recently served as Big Machine’s executive vp of label […]
Big Machine Music has promoted Mike Molinar to president of the publishing company, effective immediately. Molinar will continue to report to Big Machine Label Group chairman and CEO Scott Borchetta.
BMM, a division of HYBE America, also announced the advancement of Alex Heddle to senior vp of publishing and Grayson Stephens to vice president, overseeing royalties and finance.
“I’m so proud to announce that Mike Molinar has been appointed President of Big Machine Music. His leadership, vision, artist relations and song sense are unmatched,” Borchetta said in a press release. “We are also acknowledging the outstanding work and accomplishments of BMM’s Alex Heddle and Grayson Stephens as they continue to power the Machine to new heights.”
Molinar has nearly three decades of experience as a music publisher and advocate for creatives. He has led Big Machine Music since its inception in 2011, overseeing the company’s ongoing growth of a diverse roster and dynamic catalog of over 14,000 songs (including the RIAA Diamond-certified “Beautiful Crazy” (recorded by Luke Combs), “In Case You Didn’t Know (Brett Young) and “Speechless” (Dan+Shay), while also leading the company’s impact beyond its Nashville base with the addition of a West Coast division based in Los Angeles. Molinar has been named a Billboard Country Power Player for four consecutive years, and was selected for the Nashville Cohort of the Harvard Young American Leaders Program in 2021. Molinar currently serves as a board member on the National Music Publishers Association, Mechanical Licensing Collective designated by the U.S. Copyright Office, Music Health Alliance, Academy of Country Music and Country Music Hall of Fame Education Council.
Heddle recently celebrated a decade at BMM and represents songwriters Jessie Jo Dillon, Ryan Hurd, Matt Dragstrem, Geoff Warburton and Sara Davis, who recently earned her first Grammy Award nomination with “abcdefu” (GAYLE) for song of the year. A graduate of Leadership Music’s class of 2022, Heddle currently serves on the AIMP Nashville board and as a Music Row Ambassador for St. Jude Children’s Hospital. The Belmont University alum’s career includes time at Love Monkey Music, Writer’s Den Music, Propoel Music Publishing and Ash Street Music.
A graduate of Arizona State University’s W.P. Carey School of Business, Stephens brings nearly 14 years of publishing administration experience to the vice president role, having previously held positions at Sony Music Publishing prior to joining Big Machine Music in 2017.
“I’m honored by Scott Borchetta’s continued faith and partnership. Big Machine Music is my home; our incredible team and world-class songwriters are my family. I’m proud to continue our journey together,” Molinar added in a press release. “In that spirit, I can’t understate how important Alex Heddle and Grayson Stephens have been through these past several years of transition and growth. I’m so happy to see their efforts recognized with such well-deserved promotions.”
BMM’s current roster includes Billboard’s 2022 Songwriter of the Year Laura Veltz, Brett Young, Ryan Hurd, Jessie Jo Dillon, Matt Dragstrem, Geoff Warburton, Sara Davis, Eric Paslay, Justin Moore, Maddie & Tae, Anna Vaus, Matt Roy, Mike Eli, Daniel Ross, Callista Clark, Tyler Rich, Laci Kaye Booth, Troy Cartwright, Ayron Jones, Dalton Mauldin and Teddy Reimer. Catalog writers include Luke Combs, Brandy Clark, Jonathan Singleton and Josh Thompson.
LJ Stoll was named GM/vp of A&R at The Hard Working Record Company, a new Nashville-based record label from Big Machine Label Group (BMLG) and management company Hard 8 Working Group. The venture was struck between BMLG president/CEO/founder Scott Borchetta and Hard 8 co-founders Dirk Hemsath and Rich Egan, along with partners David Conway and Mike Bachta. “Rich and I had been toying with the idea of starting a label again, since that’s the world we both came from,” said Hemsath in a statement. “We had been working closely with Scott and Big Machine on the artist Kidd G and Scott mentioned he wanted to start a more pop-leaning imprint and that’s the world we’ve been in heavily for the last few years, most recently building pop star Tate McRae.”
Hipgnosis Songs Fund global head of song management Nick Jarjour exited his role at the company “as I embark on an exciting new chapter in my journey,” the executive wrote on LinkedIn. “During my tenure at Hipgnosis, I had the honor of working alongside a visionary leader and mentor, Merck Mercuriadis who has achieved remarkable feats for songwriters and revolutionized the music industry for future generations,” he continued. Jarjour will continue serving as CEO of his label, publishing and creative agency JarjourCo.
Andrew Spence was promoted to general counsel at Sony Music Publishing UK, where he will oversee business and legal affairs strategies and initiatives on behalf of the company and its roster while also offering guidance and counsel on its legal and operational matters. The London-based executive will continue reporting to Sony Music Publishing UK president/co-managing director, UK/senior vp of international David Ventura and UK co-managing director Tim Major. He was previously head of legal and business affairs.
Edith Bo was named head of A&R at Rostrum Records, where she will oversee the overall direction of A&R strategy and develop strategic branding partnerships, working closely with Rostrum’s marketing team. Bo joins the company from SoundCloud, where she served as senior manager of publishing. She can be reached at edith@rostrumrecords.com.
Rob Segal joined The Feldman Agency (TFA) as partner/president of TFA Inc. Segal previously founded his own agency, Segal Communications, which became one of Canada’s largest promotional and licensing agencies, with clients including Sony, Ford, Marvel, HP and Dreamworks. In his new role, he will lead the agency in fostering new business, driving marketing campaigns and elevating its brand presence. Based at the company’s Toronto office, he can be reached at rob@feldman-agency.com.
Frederik Boutahar was named vp of A&R at Columbia Records Germany, Switzerland & Austria (GSA), which he will lead alongside vp Alexandra Falken. Boutahar will report to Sony Music Entertainment GSA CEO Patrick Mushatsi-Kareba. He joins the company from TwoSides, where he served as MD. He can be reached at frederik.boutahar@sonymusic.com.
Sebastian Mair joined digital rights management company Muserk as head of business development APAC. He will oversee the company’s business throughout the Asia-Pacific region. Based in Tokyo, Mair developed a relationship with Muserk via his company Music Solutions, which develops brand partnerships and VIP packages for artists touring Asia. He can be reached at sebastian.mair@muserk.com.
Metal label Nuclear Blast Records restructured its A&R department, promoting Nathan Barley Phillips and Shawn Keith to head of A&R, Europe and head of A&R, North America, respectively. Elsewhere, Tommy Jones was promoted to label manager, North America, which includes A&R responsibilities for Nuclear Blast’s existing roster in the region. A&R Jens Prueter was also named to the newly created role of head of catalogue/senior A&R. The label was acquired by Believe in 2018. Keith can be reached at Shawn@nuclearblastusa.com.
Jen Hubbard was appointed to the newly created role of director of sync A&R at Concord Music Publishing, where she will develop and manage Concord’s U.S. songwriter roster for the purpose of synch activity. She will serve as the bridge between the company’s A&R and synch teams. Based in Nashville, Hubbard reports to senior vp of A&R Brad Kennard with support from vp of publishing sync Kourtney Kirkpatrick and executive vp of global sync Brooke Primont. Hubbard previously served as director of A&R.
Avery King, formerly director of publicity at Elicity PR, formed her own public relations firm, King Publicity. She brings her longtime clients Carter Faith, Aaron Watson, Austin Burke and Anna Rose to the new operation. King can be reached at avery@kingpublicity.com.
Steve Eckerson was named GM at ASM Global’s San Diego-based venue Pechanga Arena. He joins from Mechanics Bank Arena, Theater and Convention Center, where he’s served as GM since 2016. Eckerson succeeds Steve Tadlock in the role. He can be reached at SEckerson@pechangaarenasd.com.
UTA announced the promotions of several staffers in its music division. Sean Hendrie was elevated to agent while Jack Benson, Eli Hanavan, Maria Kanatous, Elie Low, Cassie Trimble and Sydney Wilke were upped to coordinators.
Jake Basden, who has enjoyed a nearly 12-year tenure at Big Machine Label Group, is exiting his role as senior vp of communications to pursue new opportunities. There is no word yet on his next steps.
“The trouble with working with Scott Borchetta and a company as dynamic as the Big Machine Label Group is, honestly, there is no reason to leave,” Basden said via a statement on his decision. “There comes a moment when you realize you must seek new horizons. You can get very comfortable working with incredible acts, these teams, and Scott’s many endeavors. Something I learned during my years in New York is don’t ever stop growing and reaching for new challenges. The culture at Big Machine always encouraged me to aggressively go in new directions.”
“Jake came to us right when I needed him most – right as Big Machine was exploding. He has been my communications foil and strategist and we’ve had an incredible run together,” BMLG chairman Scott Borchetta added. “Jake always presented me and the label group in very creative ways that caught the attention and landed very important pieces in Fortune, Fast Company, Rolling Stone, the Wall Street Journal and so many more. I’m very proud of all that he’s accomplished here and I’m sure he will continue to reach new heights in his next adventure. He will always be part of the fabric of Big Machine.”
Basden, a University of Oklahoma graduate, joined Big Machine from the New York offices of public relations firm Edelman, where he served as a director in their sports and entertainment division. Basden, who was named Country Music Association (CMA) publicist of the year in 2018, has worked on projects including Midland‘s re-opening of the Palomino Club, the Academy Award-nominated Glen Campbell… I’ll Be Me documentary, Jennifer Nettles‘ “I Can Do Hard Things” video and campaigns that aided in Carly Pearce earning accolades from the CMA and Academy of Country Music (ACM).
“With over 30 artists and multiple label imprints spanning country, Americana, hip-hop, rock and pop, every day was a fresh set of prospects to explore,” Basden added. “I’ve gone places I once only dreamed of and worked with some of the best media, marketing, and brand people in not just America, but the world. I’m forever grateful for Scott, the BMLG family, artists, managers, agents, and media people who’ve made this decade one that flew by. It inspires me, knowing wherever I’m going, it’s going to be a foundation unlike any other to build from.”
-
Pages
