Big Machine Records
Encyclopedia
Big Machine Records is an Independent American record label
specializing in country music
artists. It was launched in 2005 by former DreamWorks Records
executive Scott Borchetta. The label was part of a joint venture between Borchetta and country singer Toby Keith
, although Keith dropped his affiliation in 2006. Big Machine is based in Nashville, Tennessee
, and is distributed by Universal Music Group
. The label has one Grammy for Album of the Year
, awarded to Fearless
from Taylor Swift
.
In November 2007, Big Machine Records founded a subsidiary imprint called Valory Music Group. Acts signed to this roster include Jimmy Wayne
(who was formerly signed to Big Machine), Jewel
, and Justin Moore
. By late 2008, the label began promoting Canadian acts Adam Gregory
and Emerson Drive
, who are also signed to Midas Records. Big Machine ended promotion for the two artists in 2009. Reba McEntire
joined Valory in 2009, in association with her own label, Starstruck.
Big Machine joined with Universal Republic
in June 2009 to found a new label, Republic Records Nashville
.
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
specializing in country music
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
artists. It was launched in 2005 by former DreamWorks Records
DreamWorks Records
DreamWorks Records was an American record label. Founded in 1996 by David Geffen, Steven Spielberg and Jeffrey Katzenberg as a subsidiary of DreamWorks SKG, the label operated until 2005 when it was shut down...
executive Scott Borchetta. The label was part of a joint venture between Borchetta and country singer Toby Keith
Toby Keith
Toby Keith Covel , best known as Toby Keith, is an American country music singer-songwriter, record producer and actor. Keith released his first four studio albums — 1993's Toby Keith, 1994's Boomtown, 1996's Blue Moon and 1997's Dream Walkin, plus a Greatest Hits package for various divisions of...
, although Keith dropped his affiliation in 2006. Big Machine is based in Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
, and is distributed by Universal Music Group
Universal Music Group
Universal Music Group is an American music group, the largest of the "big four" record companies by its commanding market share and its multitude of global operations...
. The label has one Grammy for Album of the Year
Grammy Award for Album of the Year
The Grammy Award for Album of the Year is the most prestigious award category at the Grammys. It has been awarded since 1959 and though it was originally presented to the artist alone, the award is now presented to the artist, the producer, the engineer and/or mixer and the mastering engineer...
, awarded to Fearless
Fearless (Taylor Swift album)
Fearless has been well-received by music professionals, with many praising Swift for her introspective lyrics, as well as her mature sound. According to the music review aggregator Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album has received an...
from Taylor Swift
Taylor Swift
Taylor Alison Swift is an American country pop singer-songwriter, musician and actress.In 2006, she released her debut single "Tim McGraw", then her self-titled debut album, which was subsequently certified multi-platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America...
.
In November 2007, Big Machine Records founded a subsidiary imprint called Valory Music Group. Acts signed to this roster include Jimmy Wayne
Jimmy Wayne
Jimmy Wayne Barber is an American country music singer and songwriter. He released his self-titled debut album in 2003 on the DreamWorks Records label. Four singles were released from it, including "Stay Gone" and "I Love You This Much", which both reached Top Ten on the Billboard country charts...
(who was formerly signed to Big Machine), Jewel
Jewel (singer)
Jewel Kilcher , professionally known as Jewel, is an American singer-songwriter, guitarist, producer, actress and poet...
, and Justin Moore
Justin Moore (singer)
Justin Cole Moore is an American country music singer and songwriter signed to Big Machine Records imprint Valory Music Group. He has released two albums for Big Machine Records: Justin Moore in 2009 and Outlaws Like Me in 2011...
. By late 2008, the label began promoting Canadian acts Adam Gregory
Adam Gregory
Adam Gregory is a country music singer and actor. Active since 2000, he has recorded three studio albums, including 2000's The Way I'm Made and 2002's Workin' On It, both on Epic Records, as well as a self-titled album in 2006 on Mensa Records...
and Emerson Drive
Emerson Drive
Emerson Drive is a country music band founded in Grande Prairie, Alberta, Canada in 1995. The band is Brad Mates , Danick Dupelle , Mike Melancon , Dale Wallace , and David Pichette .Early on, the band found minor success in Canada, releasing two albums under the name of 12 Gauge, the first Open...
, who are also signed to Midas Records. Big Machine ended promotion for the two artists in 2009. Reba McEntire
Reba McEntire
Reba Nell McEntire is an American country music artist and actress. She began her career in the music industry as a high school student singing in the Kiowa High School band , on local radio shows with her siblings, and at rodeos. As a solo act, she was invited to perform at a rodeo in Oklahoma...
joined Valory in 2009, in association with her own label, Starstruck.
Big Machine joined with Universal Republic
Universal Republic
Universal Republic Records is a record label, owned by Universal Music Group. It is based on the now-defunct Republic Records label founded by brothers Monte and Avery Lipman...
in June 2009 to found a new label, Republic Records Nashville
Republic Nashville
Republic Nashville is a record label established in 2009 by Universal Republic Records in New York and Big Machine Records in Nashville. It is headquartered on Music Row and utilizes the combined resources of Big Machine Records and Universal Republic Records....
.
Artists on Big Machine
- Ella Mae Bowen
- Edens EdgeEdens EdgeEdens Edge is an American country music band composed of Hannah Blaylock , Dean Berner and Cherrill Green . The band is signed to Big Machine Records, on which Edens Edge released its debut single "Amen" in April 2011.-History:All three members of Edens Edge are natives of Arkansas...
- Rascal FlattsRascal FlattsRascal Flatts is an American country music band that originated in Columbus, Ohio, United States of America. Since its inception, Rascal Flatts has been composed of three members: Gary LeVox , Jay DeMarcus and Joe Don Rooney...
- Steel MagnoliaSteel MagnoliaSteel Magnolia is an American country music duo that won season two of the television talent show Can You Duet. The duo consists of Meghan Linsey and her fiance, Joshua Scott Jones. After becoming the top winner on the show, the duo signed a recording contract with Big Machine Records, and released...
- Taylor SwiftTaylor SwiftTaylor Alison Swift is an American country pop singer-songwriter, musician and actress.In 2006, she released her debut single "Tim McGraw", then her self-titled debut album, which was subsequently certified multi-platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America...
Former Artists
- Garth BrooksGarth BrooksTroyal Garth Brooks , best known as Garth Brooks, is an American country music artist who helped make country music a worldwide phenomenon. His eponymous first album was released in 1989 and peaked at number 2 in the US country album chart while climbing to number 13 on the Billboard 200 album chart...
(Big Machine/Pearl; promotion only) - Dusty DrakeDusty DrakeDean Buffalini is an American country music artist, known professionally as Dusty Drake. Drake played various venues in his native Pennsylvania for several years before moving to Nashville, Tennessee, co-writing a 1996 single for Joe Diffie. By 2003, Drake was signed to Warner Bros. Records as a...
- Adam GregoryAdam GregoryAdam Gregory is a country music singer and actor. Active since 2000, he has recorded three studio albums, including 2000's The Way I'm Made and 2002's Workin' On It, both on Epic Records, as well as a self-titled album in 2006 on Mensa Records...
(Big Machine/Midas/Open Road; promotion only) - Jack IngramJack IngramJack Owen Ingram is an American Texas Country artist signed to Big Machine Records, an independent record label. He has released eight studio albums, one extended play, six live albums and eighteen singles. Although active since 1992, Ingram did not reach the U.S. country Top 40 until the late...
- Kate & KaceyKate & KaceyKate & Kacey is an American country music duo consisting of identical twin sisters Kate Coppola and Kacey Coppola. In early 2008 they competed as a duo on the CMT series Can You Duet, where they took fourth place. In August 2008, they signed a recording contract with Big Machine Records...
- Danielle PeckDanielle PeckDanielle Marie Peck is an American country music artist. Signed to the independent Big Machine Records label in 2005, Peck released her self-titled debut album, which produced the Top 30 country hits "I Don't", "Findin' a Good Man", and "Isn't That Everything"...
- Melissa PetermanMelissa PetermanMelissa Margaret Peterman is an American actress and comedienne who is best known for her role as Barbara Jean in the television comedy series Reba...
- Fisher Stevenson
- Sunny SweeneySunny SweeneySunny Michaela Sweeney is an American country music artist. She is signed to the Republic Nashville label. Her debut album, Heartbreaker's Hall of Fame, was issued in 2007. Although it produced three singles in "If I Could", "Ten Years Pass" and "East Texas Pines", none of these singles have charted...
- Jimmy WayneJimmy WayneJimmy Wayne Barber is an American country music singer and songwriter. He released his self-titled debut album in 2003 on the DreamWorks Records label. Four singles were released from it, including "Stay Gone" and "I Love You This Much", which both reached Top Ten on the Billboard country charts...
- Trisha YearwoodTrisha YearwoodPatricia Lynn Yearwood, professionally known as Trisha Yearwood , is an American country music artist. She is best known for her ballads about vulnerable young women from a female perspective that have been described by some music critics as "strong" and "confident."Trisha Yearwood signed with MCA...
Artists on Valory
- Brantley GilbertBrantley GilbertBrantley Gilbert is an American country rock music singer-songwriter. He has released two albums, both on the Average Joe's Entertainment Group label. His songs have also been recorded by Colt Ford and Jason Aldean. In February 2011, he left Average Joe's label to join Valory Music Group, where he...
- JewelJewel (singer)Jewel Kilcher , professionally known as Jewel, is an American singer-songwriter, guitarist, producer, actress and poet...
- Reba McEntireReba McEntireReba Nell McEntire is an American country music artist and actress. She began her career in the music industry as a high school student singing in the Kiowa High School band , on local radio shows with her siblings, and at rodeos. As a solo act, she was invited to perform at a rodeo in Oklahoma...
(Valory/Starstruck) - Justin MooreJustin Moore (singer)Justin Cole Moore is an American country music singer and songwriter signed to Big Machine Records imprint Valory Music Group. He has released two albums for Big Machine Records: Justin Moore in 2009 and Outlaws Like Me in 2011...
- Thomas Rhett
Artist on Republic Nashville
- The Band PerryThe Band PerryThe Band Perry, an American country music group, is composed of siblings Kimberly Perry , Reid Perry and Neil Perry...
- Eli Young BandEli Young BandEli Young Band is an American country music band based in Denton, Texas. The band is composed of Mike Eli , James Young , Jon Jones , and Chris Thompson . They released their self-titled debut album in 2002, followed by the Carnival records release Level in 2005...
- Martina McBrideMartina McBrideMartina McBride is an American country music singer and songwriter. McBride has been called the "Céline Dion of Country Music" for her big-voiced ballads and soprano range....
- Sunny SweeneySunny SweeneySunny Michaela Sweeney is an American country music artist. She is signed to the Republic Nashville label. Her debut album, Heartbreaker's Hall of Fame, was issued in 2007. Although it produced three singles in "If I Could", "Ten Years Pass" and "East Texas Pines", none of these singles have charted...
Staff
- Scott Borchetta - President & CEO Big Machine Label Group
- Andrew Kautz - General Manager
- Jimmy Harnen - President, Republic Nashville
- Allison Jones - VP, A&R
- Kelly Rich - VP, Marketing, Sales & Interactive
- Sandi Spika Borchetta - VP, Creative Services
- John Zarling - VP, Promotion and Media Strategy
- Jake Basden - Director of Publicity
- David Beller - Office Manager
- Nikki Burns - Publicity
- Erin Burr - Publicity
- Kelsey Chandler - Executive Assistant to Jimmy Harnen
- Jimmy Chapin - Office Assistant
- Ashley Crawford - Accounting Coordinator
- Shea Fowler - A&R Coordinator
- Seth Hellman - Creative Coordinator
- Ashley Jeanette - Accounting Manager
- Justin Key - Director of Creative Services, Asset Manager
- Megan Knutson - Label Resource Manager, Republic Nashville
- Karen Light - Administration Analyst
- Harry Lyons - Executive Assistant to Scott Borchetta
- Brittney McKenna - Marketing Coordinator
- Wayne Milligan - Director of Administration
- Mike Moore - Creative Services
- Annie Ortmeier - Director of Interactive
- Whitney Sutton - Manager, Sales & Production
- Colleen Taylor - Administrative Assistant to Scott Borchetta
- Brad Turcotte - Director, International Marketing