Who Owns Big Machine Records? A Look at the Label's Ownership History

Who Owns Big Machine Records? A Look at the Label's Ownership History

By Marcus Bennett

December 9, 2024 at 08:08 AM

Big Machine Records is currently owned by Hybe Corporation, a South Korean entertainment company, through its subsidiary Ithaca Holdings. The acquisition took place in June 2019 when Scooter Braun's Ithaca Holdings purchased Big Machine Label Group for $300 million.

Originally founded in 2005 by Scott Borchetta, Big Machine Records has gone through significant ownership changes. Borchetta initially started the label with financial backing from country music star Toby Keith and remained its CEO until the 2019 sale.

The ownership timeline looks like this:

2005-2019: Scott Borchetta (Founder and CEO)
2019-Present: Hybe Corporation (through Ithaca Holdings)

This acquisition sparked considerable media attention, particularly due to the controversy surrounding Taylor Swift's master recordings, which were owned by Big Machine Records. Swift had been the label's flagship artist from 2005 to 2018.

The current corporate structure places Big Machine Records under:

Hybe Corporation (Parent Company)
    ↳ Ithaca Holdings (Direct Owner)
        ↳ Big Machine Label Group
            ↳ Big Machine Records

Despite the ownership change, Scott Borchetta continues to serve as President and CEO of Big Machine Label Group, overseeing the day-to-day operations of the label. The company maintains its headquarters in Nashville, Tennessee, and continues to be a major player in country music.

The label represents numerous notable artists and operates several imprints, including Big Machine Records, The Valory Music Co., and Big Machine/John Varvatos Records. Under Hybe's ownership, the label has maintained its focus on country music while expanding its reach in the global music market.

I should note that this ownership structure has helped Big Machine Records access greater resources and international distribution networks, particularly in the Asian market, through Hybe's extensive entertainment industry connections.

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