Alpha Gamma (Oklahoma) alumnus awarded “Publicist of the Year.”
Big Machine Label Group publicity chief Jake Basden was awarded “Publicist of the Year” by the Country Music Association during the organization’s annual CMA Touring Awards that honored 15 categories on Monday night.
“The CMA Touring Awards offer us an opportunity to celebrate all of our vital behind-the-scenes industry members,” said Sarah Trahern, CMA Chief Executive Officer. “They are true road warriors who night after night commit themselves to bringing live music straight to Country Music fans around the globe.”
For 60 years, the Country Music Association has promoted the genre through events such as the CMA Awards, CMA Fest and the Country Music Hall of Fame.
Basden joined Big Machine in 2011 and oversees communications for the group’s record labels, publishing company and various business enterprises.
Big Machine is the largest independent record label in the world, home to superstars such as Taylor Swift, Reba, Rascal Flatts, Florida Georgia Line and Thomas Rhett.
Basden previously earned PRWeek’s “Young PR Professional of the Year” title during his time at Ogilvy and worked on multiple marketing campaigns that took home PRWeektrophies during his time at Edelman, the world’s largest global communications firm. His team at Big Machine has twice been shortlisted by PRWeek in the“In-House PR Team of the Year” category.
He serves on the Board of Visitors for the University of Oklahoma’s Gaylord College of Journalism & Mass Communication as well as the Nashville Film Festival Music Committee and is a member of the Tennessee STEM Innovation Network Executive Council.