OPERATING HEAVY MACHINERY

The Scott Borchetta/Big Machine Label Group derby continues into the new year, as the red-hot entrepreneur/exec sorts through various elephant-bucks-plus-perks offers. Interestingly, there's been no offer thus far from WMG, which many thought was going to make a big offer to take the deal off the table. Those in the know expect the deal for BMLG to close by the end of Q1. It isn’t yet known whether the offers on the table meet or exceed the $200m Borchetta was reportedly looking for when he put the company on the block, or whether Taylor Swift will re-up with Big Machine. Swift’s continued presence would obviously have a significant impact on the size of the deal, considering 1989 is now at 4.8m TEA, while the first two singles are a combined 6.7m.