Veteran Music and Entertainment Executive Jake Basden Appointed as New CEO
NASHVILLE, Tenn., February 17, 2026–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Today, HYBE AMERICA announced that its Nashville-based country, Americana and roots rock division will rebrand as Blue Highway Records effective immediately. Long-standing music, marketing and entertainment leader Jake Basden has been appointed as Blue Highway Records’ Chief Executive Officer. The announcement was made today by Isaac Lee, Chairman and CEO of HYBE AMERICA.
Basden’s decades-long career in the entertainment industry is defined by his deep relationships across music, film, television and live entertainment. He most recently served as President of Sandbox Management, where he oversaw all aspects of the talent division’s representation and business development, guiding the careers of multi-platinum and multi-award-winning talent including Kacey Musgraves, Brandi Carlile, Kate Hudson, Kelsea Ballerini, Baby Nova and Little Big Town.
“As we were searching for a leader for our new Nashville record label, it was important to choose someone that thought of artists first. We found someone that would not only connect with our team and build our company culture, but has profound ties to this community,” said Lee. “Jake’s long history of devoted service to artists, his time with our company and his deep roots in Nashville, along with his fresh and modern take on what will make the label successful in the digital age made him the ideal candidate for this role. We’re excited for what’s ahead for Blue Highway Records and for all that Jake will do to further expand our company’s footprint in Music City.”
“Country and American roots music is at such a dynamic place,” said Basden of the appointment, “and I can think of no better place to define what the future of these sounds can be than Blue Highway. With the power and global synergy of HYBE, there are no limits to what we can create – and I look forward to working with the current roster and future signings to deliver artists, songs and projects that speak to the heart of who we are as people.”
Blue Highway Records will be home to some of the premier artists and songwriters in the industry, with a number of marquee talent on the label’s roster including Thomas Rhett, Brett Young, Midland, Justin Moore, Carly Pearce, Preston Cooper, Jackson Dean and Mae Estes, as well as distribution for Riley Green, Shaylen, The Band Perry and Greylan James under Nashville Harbor Records & Entertainment. The Valory Music Co. will be folded into Blue Highway Records. The publishing company Big Machine Music will remain under HYBE AMERICA.
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“We are starting with a diverse roster of passionate creators. Each is singular in who they are, but also how they write and realize their sound,” Basden said. “From Thomas Rhett, a superstar who’s still filled with unmet potential to Jackson Dean, a songwriter with raw charisma and a gritty sound, Blue Highway is a place where being yourself invites originality and inspires listeners to find their own path. For CMA and ACM Female Vocalist of the Year Carly Pearce, Western-leaning progressives Midland and staunch American Justin Moore, country music is the bedrock for labelmates who have defined their own lane. When you factor in Preston Cooper, Brett Young and Mae Estes, the tradition of being your own kind of country remains in strong hands. Blue Highway is going to deliver the sound for country for the coming years.”
To download the new company logo, click here. Follow Blue Highway Records on Instagram.
Basden recently orchestrated eight-time Grammy Award winner Kacey Musgraves’ further artistic evolution with Deeper Well, which dominated the charts in both the US and UK. He also established multi-platinum vocalist Kelsea Ballerini’s Rolling Up The Welcome Mat as a critical triumph, earning a Best Country Album nomination at the 2024 Grammys, as well as nominations from the Academy of Country Music and the Country Music Association for Female Vocalist and Album of the Year.
This new appointment marks a return to the company for Basden, who previously served as Senior Vice President of Communications for Big Machine Label Group. While at BMLG, he worked with superstars Taylor Swift, Sheryl Crow, Tim McGraw, and Steven Tyler, and delivered award-winning music campaigns for Lionsgate’s “Nashville,” NBC’s “The Voice,” Fox’s “American Idol,” and Academy Award nominee recognition for Best Original Song for “I’m Not Gonna Miss You” from the documentary Glen Campbell: I’ll Be Me.
Basden began his career with a significant tenure at Ogilvy & Mather in New York, as well as Edelman, where he served as a Director in the Sports & Entertainment Division, spanning fashion, artists, products, celebrities and key events.
A graduate of the University of Oklahoma, with post-grad work at Harvard, Basden is a member of the Country Music Association, the Academy of Country Music, and the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences. He resides in Nashville, Tennessee.
About HYBE AMERICA
HYBE AMERICA, a subsidiary of HYBE Corp., is a leading global entertainment and media company at the intersection of music, film, television, technology, brands, culture and social good. HYBE AMERICA drives innovation across the entertainment landscape through its diverse portfolio, including Blue Highway Records, the publishing company Big Machine Music and Quality Control Music in the U.S., and HYBE’s labels in Latin America and the U.S. Hispanic market. The company represents a powerhouse roster of global artists spanning multiple genres and cultures. With headquarters in Los Angeles, HYBE AMERICA creates synergistic opportunities for artists, businesses, and brands through its integrated approach to talent development, content creation, and technological innovation that transcends industries.
