On February 17, HYBE America officially rebranded Big Machine Label Group (BMLG) to Blue Highway Records. Following BMLG founder Scott Borchetta’s exit, the change marks a bold shift from a founder-led tradition to a modern corporate model. It connects Nashville’s roots music to HYBE’s global power through an artist-first business model, leveraging global power to develop country music worldwide. It also shows how HYBE uses its great resources to dominate the Nashville market. This new chapter begins right now. Following Ethiopia Habtemariam’s appointment as HYBE America’s President of Music in January 2026, the company named Jake Basden as CEO of the rebranded Blue Highway Records, signaling leadership building in its US expansion.
HYBE America Rebrands BMLG to Blue Highway Records Under Jake Basden
HYBE America is making a big move in Nashville. The company is rebranding BMLG (Big Machine Records and Big Machine/John Varvatos Records) assets under the Blue Highway Records name. It is a corporate restructuring designed to shift Nashville operations toward an artist-first, globally connected, digitally aligned model.
The New Direction: From Big Machine to Blue Highway
Blue Highway Records is a key milestone in HYBE America’s US expansion. It consolidates the company’s foothold in country music, a sector HYBE entered through the $1.05 billion Ithaca Holdings deal in 2021, which brought Big Machine Label Group into the fold.
HYBE America expansion timeline.
| Milestone | Year | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Ithaca Holdings Acquisition | 2021 | HYBE buys Scooter Braun’s portfolio for $1.05B, including BMLG (acquired by Braun in 2019). |
| Quality Control Music Partnership | 2023 | HYBE invests in Atlanta hip-hop label (Migos, Lil Baby), expanding urban genres. |
| HYBE Label Service Launch | 2025 | Services arm for Latin/Hispanic markets from LA HQ, plus Big Machine Music publishing. |
| Blue Highway Rebrand | Feb 2026 | Replaces BMLG branding; Basden appointed to fuse HYBE tech (e.g., Weverse) with country/Americana. |
The rebrand stabilizes Nashville operations following Scott Borchetta’s exit. HYBE America retains what matters most — the core assets, the full artist roster, and the distribution deals.
Valory Music Co. folds into the new structure. Jake Basden steps in as CEO, tasked with driving digital growth and unlocking global synergies.
This rebrand protects HYBE’s long-term reputation in the American music industry. It signals a shift from a founder-led shop to a modern corporate power. The change follows the departure of Scott Borchetta, who took the old brand name with him.
| Old Structure (BMLG) | New Structure (Blue Highway Records) |
|---|---|
| Led by founder Scott Borchetta | Led by CEO Jake Basden |
| Owned Big Machine Records brand | Brand reacquired by Borchetta |
| Included The Valory Music Co. | Valory folded into Blue Highway |
| Managed Big Machine Music | Publishing stays under HYBE America |
What Is Blue Highway Records?
Blue Highway Records is HYBE America’s newly formed Nashville-based record label.
It replaces:
- Big Machine Records
- Big Machine/John Varvatos Records
- The Valory Music Co. (now folded into operations)
The label inherits the full artist roster previously under BMLG.
The objective is long-term artist development rather than short-term chart performance.
Why Did HYBE Rebrand Big Machine Label Group?
The strategic rebrand follows Scott Borchetta’s departure from HYBE America. HYBE now focuses on performance and modern leadership.
The structural split leaves the assets in these two groups:
HYBE America retains:
- Blue Highway Records
- Full artist roster
- Big Machine Music (publishing arm)
- Nashville Harbor Records & Entertainment
- Global distribution infrastructure
Scott Borchetta reacquires:
- The Big Machine Records brand name
The rebrand creates a neutral corporate identity separate from founder-led legacy branding.
The “Manager’s Mentality” of Jake Basden
Jake Basden serves as the new Chief Executive Officer at Blue Highway Records with a background:
- Former executive at Big Machine
- Former executive at Sandbox Management
- Worked on campaigns involving Taylor Swift, Tim McGraw, and Sheryl Crow
- Managed Kacey Musgraves and Kelsea Ballerini
Citing from Music Business Worldwide, Jake Basden stated,
“My experience in management exposed me to how labels operate across the marketplace and gave me clarity around what artists truly need from a partner.”
Jake Basden, Blue Highway Records
Basden’s recent role at Sandbox Management is the secret to this corporate transition. He brings the perspective of a talent manager to the record label office.
He understands how business choices affect an artist’s life for years to come. Basden intends to slow the business down to focus on career development.
This role marks a return for Basden, who previously worked as a senior executive for the label. During that time, he helped manage campaigns for Taylor Swift, Tim McGraw, and Sheryl Crow.
He also guided Kacey Musgraves and Kelsea Ballerini toward global fame during his tenure as a manager. These deep roots make him a trusted leader in the Nashville community.
HYBE Chairman and CEO Isaac Lee described Basden’s leadership as aligned with the digital era and artist-centered strategy.
Citing the Business Wire, the Chairman and CEO of HYBE America stated,
“Jake’s… fresh and modern take on what will make the label successful in the digital age made him the ideal candidate,”
Isaac Lee, Chairman and CEO of HYBE America.
This leadership style will now guide the label’s existing talent pool.
What Is Jake Basden’s Strategy?
Basden brings what insiders describe as a “manager’s mentality.” This model focuses on:
- Long-term career building
- Sustainable release pacing
- Global scaling opportunities
- Cross-market expansion
His strategy focuses on multi-album growth and international reach over fast chart cycles.
The Blue Highway Roster
The inherited roster includes established country music acts and emerging talent. The roster combines commercial stability with future growth potential.
Established Artists
- Thomas Rhett
- Carly Pearce
- Brett Young
- Midland
- Justin Moore
Emerging Artists
- Jackson Dean
- Mae Estes
- Preston Cooper
The label also distributes music for Riley Green and Shaylen under the Nashville Harbor imprint.
The roster combines commercial stability with future growth potential.
What Does This Mean for Nashville’s Music Industry?
The launch of Blue Highway Records signals three major shifts:
1. Founder-to-Corporate Transition
Nashville’s historically founder-led structure is transitioning to a global conglomerate governance.
2. Artist-First Repositioning
Leadership in Blue Highway Records is rooted in management experience, replacing traditional label hierarchies.
3. Globalization of Country Music
HYBE’s infrastructure enables Nashville artists to expand internationally through digital platforms and global distribution.
The move shows broader industry consolidation trends in the U.S. music business.
How Does This Fit Into HYBE’s U.S. Strategy?
HYBE America continues diversifying beyond K-pop into:
- Latin music
- Hip-hop
- Country
- Publishing
- Distribution
The Nashville reset strengthens HYBE’s footprint in American genre markets while preserving local cultural identity.
Blue Highway Records becomes HYBE’s primary country music growth engine.
People Also Ask (FAQ)
What happened to Big Machine Label Group?
HYBE America rebranded the division as Blue Highway Records to create a neutral corporate identity.
Will Big Machine Music remain part of the new label?
No, Big Machine Music is a separate publishing company. It remains directly under the HYBE America umbrella as a corporate asset.
Who is the CEO of Blue Highway Records?
Industry veteran Jake Basden serves as the label’s Chief Executive Officer.
Is Big Machine Music publishing part of Blue Highway Records?
No. The publishing company remains a separate business unit under HYBE America.
Is Scott Borchetta still with HYBE?
No, Scott Borchetta exited HYBE and reacquired the Big Machine Records brand. He will use this brand for his future independent ventures.
Is Big Machine Music Publishing Still Part of the Label?
No. Big Machine Music remains a separate publishing company under HYBE America. It retains its original name and operates independently from Blue Highway Records.
Which labels are being folded into Blue Highway Records?
The Valory Music Co. is being folded into Blue Highway Records. This move creates a single, streamlined entity for the Nashville market.
Will Big Machine Music remain part of the new label?
No, Big Machine Music is a separate publishing company. It remains directly under the HYBE America umbrella as a corporate asset.
Which artists are signed to Blue Highway Records?
The roster includes Thomas Rhett, Carly Pearce, Brett Young, Midland, Justin Moore, Jackson Dean, and Mae Estes.
A New Global Chapter for Nashville
Blue Highway Records represents more than a Nashville relaunch. HYBE America attempts to institutionalize country music within a global entertainment platform. If successful, the model can redefine how regional genres scale internationally in the streaming era.
The next test will be whether an artist-first framework can beat traditional volume-driven label systems in the U.S. market.
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