Bell Media and Music Mogul Scott Borchetta Join Forces to Showcase Music Talent Worldwide

– Bell Media and BMLG begin development on new worldwide TV music format –
– Partnership with Borchetta's Big Machine Label Group (BMLG) is a multifaceted music initiative to discover and cultivate musical talent –

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TORONTO and NASHVILLE, Feb. 6, 2017 /PRNewswire/ - Bell Media announced today a major partnership with world-renowned record executive Scott Borchetta who is the founder, president, and CEO of the Big Machine Label Group (BMLG) headquartered in Nashville, TN. BMLG is the #1 independent record label in the world based on sales and radio airplay, enlisting such international multi-platinum superstars as Taylor Swift, Florida Georgia Line, Steven Tyler, Tim McGraw, Reba, and Thomas Rhett across its roster of talent. The multifaceted entertainment initiative between Bell Media and BMLG will discover and cultivate musical talent through new television, radio, recording, and live concert projects.

Bell Media and BMLG will work together to uncover, develop, and promote pop culture's next musical superstars. The centerpiece of the alliance is a unique television format that will leverage Bell Media's massive reach and extensive platforms to showcase musicians on the national and international stage. Bell Media and BMLG plan to advance the format beyond Canada to ultimately become a conduit for discovering new musical voices worldwide.

"Bell Media has a track record of success in live music production, extensive platforms, and leading promotion of homegrown talent in many areas," said Borchetta. "Together, our strengths make us strong partners to lift this global project off the ground."

"Bell Media builds upon its commitment to artist development with this new initiative, and with whom better to align than the best in the business, Scott Borchetta," said Randy Lennox, President, Broadcasting and Content, Bell Media.

Borchetta and BMLG have an extensive background in working with entertainers from television platforms. Borchetta guided contestants on the final two seasons of FOX's wildly successful AMERICAN IDOL and Big Machine Records is the musical home to CMT's new hit series, NASHVILLE.

With Borchetta at the helm, BMLG has celebrated monumental milestones since the company's inception 11 years ago. He has led the charge on more than 50 million albums sold by the company's artists under his watch – including 165 #1 Country and Pop radio singles. These talents have won multiple Grammy Awards, American Music Awards, Country Music Association Awards, Academy of Country Music Awards, and more.

Borchetta has been honored for his groundbreaking business savvy with inclusion on Billboard's Power 100 list and Fast Company's prestigious "100 Most Creative People in Business." In 2015, the Music Biz Association presented Borchetta with the Presidential Award for Outstanding Executive Achievement, joining the ranks of past honorees who have been recognized for their outstanding vision, leadership, and commitment including Dick Clark, Doug Morris, and Clive Davis.

Forging an unprecedented deal for American record companies in 2012, Borchetta made history by working with industry icon Bob Pittman and iHeartMedia, the largest owner of U.S. radio stations, to create and institute the first-ever U.S. Terrestrial Performance Rights agreement. The deal secured sound-recording performance royalty payments to BMLG and its artists from terrestrial radio airplay. There are now five major broadcast companies on this ground-breaking platform as well as records companies such as Warner Music Group and  several other important and forward-thinking independent labels.

Borchetta recently announced the creation and development of BigMachineTV.com – a new online digital video platform launching in February 2017 – that will offer music videos as well as exclusive interviews, announcements, contests, and behind the scenes content with BMLG artists.

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About Bell Media
Bell Media creates content and builds brands that entertain, inform, engage, and inspire audiences through the platforms of their choice. Bell Media is Canada's leading content creation company with premier assets in television, radio, out-of-home advertising, and digital media. Bell Media owns 30 local television stations led by CTV, Canada's highest-rated television network; 30 specialty channels, including TSN and RDS, Canada's most-watched specialty channels in English and French; and four pay TV services, including The Movie Network and Super Écran. Bell Media is also Canada's largest radio broadcaster, with 215 music channels including 105 licensed radio stations in 54 markets across the country, all part of the iHeartRadio brand and streaming service. Bell Media owns Astral Out of Home with a network of more than 30,000 advertising faces in British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario, Québec, and Nova Scotia. Bell Media also operates more than 200 websites; delivers TV Everywhere with its CraveTV and GO video streaming services; operates multi-channel network Much Digital Studios; produces live theatrical shows via its partnership with Iconic Entertainment Studios; and owns Dome Productions Inc., a multi-platform production company. Bell Media is part of BCE Inc. (TSX, NYSE: BCE), Canada's largest communications company. For more on Bell Media, please visit www.bellmedia.ca.

About Big Machine Label Group
Led by Founder, President and CEO Scott Borchetta, the Big Machine Label Group encompasses Big Machine Records, The Valory Music Co., BMLG Records, Dot Records, Nash Icon Records and publishing company Big Machine Music. BMLG artists include superstars Taylor Swift, Tim McGraw, Rascal Flatts, Reba McEntire, Florida Georgia Line, Hank Williams Jr., Ronnie Dunn, Steven Tyler, Cheap Trick, Jennifer Nettles and Brantley Gilbert; chart-topping acts Thomas Rhett, Justin Moore, Eli Young Band, Maddie & Tae, A Thousand Horses, Aaron Lewis, THE VOICE winners Cassadee Pope and Danielle Bradbery; up-and-comers The Cadillac Three, Drake White, Tucker Beathard, Brett Young, Tara Thompson, Midland, Carly Pearce, as well as soundtracks for the hit TV show NASHVILLE. Borchetta served as the mentor on American Idol for Seasons 14 and 15. BMLG artists have received multiple Grammy, CMA, ACM, AMA, CMT, Teen Choice, MTV, Billboard, People's Choice and Brit Awards. Big Machine is the first-ever American label to align with terrestrial radio for performance royalty rights for its artists and is an industry leader in fighting for artist, songwriter, publisher and record company rights. Visit BigMachineLabelGroup.com for more information.

SOURCE Bell Media

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