Mike Molinar promoted to President at Big Machine Music – Music Business Worldwide

Big Machine Music (BMM) has promoted General Manager Mike Molinar to President, effective immediately, as the independent music publisher, a unit of HYBE America, announced the appointment and promotion of other key senior executives.

Molinar has led BMM since its inception in 2011, overseeing the company’s roster and catalog. He helped drive the company’s expansion to the West Coast in Los Angeles.

Molinar’s contributions to the music industry have been recognized through various awards, including being named a Billboard Country Power Player for four consecutive years and his selection for the Nashville Cohort of the Harvard Young American Leaders Program in 2021. 

He is also a board member on several music-related organizations such as the National Music Publishers Association, Mechanical Licensing Collective, Music Health Alliance, Academy of Country Music, and Country Music Hall of Fame Education Council.

Big Machine Music is the music publishing arm of Big Machine Label Group (BMLG), which signed Taylor Swift. In 2019, Ithaca Holdings LLC., a media holding company led by SB Projects founder Scooter Braun, fully acquired BMLG. The deal included the entirety of Taylor Swift’s master recording rights for records released on BMLG.

“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.”

Scott BorchettA, Big Machine Label Group

Since 2021, BMLG has been owned by South Korea’s HYBE through its acquisition of Braun’s Ithaca Holdings.

“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,” said BMLG CEO and Chairman Scott Borchetta.

“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 will continue reporting to Borchetta following his latest appointment.

BMM also announced the promotion of key senior executives Alex Heddle to Senior Vice President of Publishing and Grayson Stephens to Vice President overseeing royalties and finance.

Both of them will continue reporting to Molinar.

“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,” said Molinar. 

“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.”

Heddle, who recently completed a decade at BMM, has played a key role in the company’s success in Nashville and Los Angeles. Representing songwriters such as Jessie Jo Dillon, Ryan Hurd, Matt Dragstrem, Geoff Warburton, and Sara Davis, Heddle’s efforts were recognized with a GRAMMY Awards nomination for Song of the Year for abcdefu (GAYLE). In addition to his role at BMM, Heddle serves on the AIMP Nashville board and as a Music Row Ambassador for St. Jude Children’s Hospital.

Meanwhile, Stephens, a graduate of Arizona State University’s W.P. Carey School of Business, brings nearly 14 years of publishing administration experience to his role as Vice President at BMM. He will continue to oversee royalties and finance, as well as acquisition analysis for the company.

Stephens is actively involved in the community and has served as a Big Brothers Big Sisters mentor, as well as a member of the Junior Board and Volunteer Recruitment Committee for BBBS of Middle TN.

Music Business Worldwide