HYBE America has sold Big Machine Rock, the Nashville-based rock imprint of Big Machine Label Group, to Gebbia Media.
As part of the agreement, Scott Borchetta, founder of Big Machine Label Group, of which Big Machine Rock has been a part until now, will continue to oversee operations of the rock label.
Borchetta will also join the advisory board of Siebert Financial, parent company of Gebbia Media.
Founded in 2005 by Borchetta, BMLG was acquired by Scooter Braun’s Ithaca Holdings in 2019. The entirety of Ithaca, including BMLG and Braun’s SB Projects, was then acquired by South Korea’s HYBE in a $1.05 billion deal in 2021.
Big Machine Rock’s current roster includes Daughtry, Badflower, Sammy Hagar, Olive Vox, and Ryan Perdz, among others.
Artists currently signed to Big Machine Rock will remain part of the label’s roster.
According to the press release announcing the deal, GM Heather Luke-Husong “has led the label’s all-female team to achieve multiple No. 1 singles and Platinum-certified records in just a few years”.
Luke-Husong will continue to lead the label as GM.
Big Machine Rock’s new owner, Gebbia Media, is described as an entertainment company “focused on the development and promotion of music and sports talent, catalog acquisition, and bold storytelling across film, television, podcasts, and digital media”.
It is a subsidiary of New York-headquartered financial services company Siebert Financial Corp.
Gebbia was itself acquired by Siebert in August last year. According to the announcement at the time, the acquisition included a business partnership with GAMMA Media and L.A. Reid LLC for the rights to SIMIEN, a group from Los Angeles who are managed by Akon.
Akon is listed as a member of Siebert’s Advisory Committee.
Wednesday’s (May 28) announcement claims that the acquisition “marks a bold new chapter in Gebbia Media’s rapid ascent within the music and media industries”.
The press release added that “Under Gebbia Media’s leadership, [Big Machine Rock] will prioritize artist development, immersive storytelling, and cross-platform visibility, meeting fans where they are: onstage, online, and embedded in culture”.
Gebbia/Siebert also highlighted Borchetta’s track record of “guiding dozens of top-selling artists such as Riley Green, Thomas Rhett, Reba, Mötley Crüe, Garth Brooks, Dolly Parton, Carly Pearce, Taylor Swift, Sheryl Crow, Florida Georgia Line and so many more”.
The company added that Borchetta “brings immediate strategic depth to Siebert’s expansion into media and entertainment, making him an invaluable addition to its advisory board.
“This acquisition marks another step in Siebert’s commitment to innovating at the intersection of Finance and Culture.”
John J Gebbia, Siebert Financial
John J Gebbia, CEO of Siebert Financial, said: “This acquisition marks another step in Siebert’s commitment to innovating at the intersection of Finance and Culture.
“By bringing Big Machine Rock into the Gebbia Media portfolio, we’re aligning visionary talent with the resources and stability of a diversified financial platform, ensuring long-term growth and cultural impact.”
“Big Machine Rock embodies the Gebbia Media approach: bold, cross-generational, and deeply in touch with the culture.”
David Gebbia, Gebbia Media
David Gebbia, CEO of Gebbia Media, said: “Growing up with incredible music by iconic artists like Led Zeppelin, Van Halen, and The Doors, I recognize the importance of bringing rock to a new generation of listeners and fans, who are ready to embrace it.
“Big Machine Rock embodies the Gebbia Media approach: bold, cross-generational, and deeply in touch with the culture.
“This acquisition allows us to further our mission of empowering artists through investment in robust catalogs and cross-platform expansion.”
Elsewhere at HYBE America, the company recently acquired Confirmed360, a Santa Monica-based ‘events concierge’ company Confirmed360, which has been linked to arranging VIP experiences at concerts by superstars from Taylor Swift to Justin Timberlake.
In February 2023, HYBE America, led by Scooter Braun, acquired Atlanta rap powerhouse QC Media Holdings aka Quality Control, home to acts such as Lil Baby, Migos, Lil Yachty and City Girls, in a deal worth $300 million, according to Korean regulator filings.
Elsewhere, in September, it was reported that HYBE had acquired US public relations agency, The Agency Group PR LCC.
HYBE America’s South Korea-headquartered parent company is selling its entire stake in K-Pop rival SM Entertainment to Tencent Music for nearly $180 million.Music Business Worldwide
