On Sept. 9, 2013, Greater Media announced a multi-year licensing agreement with Nashville-based Big Machine Label Group with regard to the performance of Big Machine's recorded music on Greater Media's digital and terrestrial broadcast platforms. Artists with Big Machine's wholly owned labels who will benefit from this agreement include Big Machine Records artists Taylor Swift, Tim McGraw and Rascal Flatts and The Valory Music Co. artists Justin Moore, Reba, Brantley Gilbert, The Mavericks and Thomas Rhett.
Through this agreement, Big Machine agreed to an innovative approach to allow digital simulcasts of the over-the-air signals by Greater Media to scale affordably to support the growth of the company's digital platform. Meanwhile, Greater Media agreed to share a percentage of its on-air revenues with regard to the performance of Big Machine's recorded music on terrestrial platforms.
"We are thrilled to partner with the Big Machine Label Group, its President and CEO Scott Borchetta, and the company's outstanding artists through this licensing agreement," said Greater Media Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Peter Smyth. "This is a great example of the radio and record industries working together with the ultimate goal of being able to provide the best entertainment possible on a multi-platform basis for our valued listeners."
"Peter Smyth is an American broadcasting visionary who fully understands the importance of leading a healthy radio entertainment business in lockstep with a healthy recorded music business," said Scott Borchetta. "The broadcast industry knows that the Big Machine Label Group is fully supportive of the mission of having great radio available in as many places as possible and this is another public vote of confidence and support for that mission".
Greater Media, Inc. is the parent company of 21 AM and FM radio stations in the Boston, Charlotte, Detroit, New Jersey and Philadelphia markets. It also owns a group of weekly newspapers in central New Jersey as well as several telecommunications towers located throughout the United States.
