Gathering to seal BMG’s deal to buy the BBR Music Group are, from left, Joe Gillen, CFO & EVP, BMG North America; Kos Weaver, EVP, BMG Nashville; Benny Brown, founder, BBR Music Group; Zach Katz, President, Repertoire & Marketing, BMG North America; and Jon Loba, EVP, BBR Music Group.

BMG has acquired the indie powerhouse BBR Music Group, the boutique label group that releases music from Jason Aldean and Trace Adkins. It's BMG’s biggest single acquisition in the recordings business since its launch in 2008.

The associated labels in Benny Brown’s BBRMG are Broken Bow Records, Stoney Creek Records, Wheelhouse Records, Red Bow Records and its music publishing company Magic Mustang Music. Among its artists are Dustin Lynch, Randy Houser and Thompson Square.

BBRMG will continue to operate from its Nashville headquarters and its 48 staff will transfer to BMG, which has not had a Nashville label presence for eight years.

Brown and CFO Paul Brown will remain as consultants to the business following the deal, while all existing staff remain in their positions reporting directly to Executive Vice President Jon Loba. Loba will report to BMG U.S. President Repertoire & Marketing Zach Katz.

The deal gives BMG an increased position in Nashville and promises an enhanced international profile for BBRMG artists.

“BBR Music Group is a phenomenally successful operation whose philosophy and commitment to its artists fit perfectly with the new BMG,” BMG CEO Hartwig Masuch said. “The combination of BBR Music Group and BMG gives artists and songwriters in Nashville and beyond a new route to the worldwide market. We will be the alternative so many artists are looking for.”

Brown said he has been approached to sell multiple times since 2001.”After meeting with Hartwig and Zach, I knew that I’d found the right partners to ensure my family stayed together and to also continue the BBR Music Group legacy. We were one of the very first indie labels to ever break through in country music. Because of that we created a different culture within our walls that’s pretty simple—happy people are productive people. That’s always been important to me and that’s also the way Hartwig and Zach run BMG.”