Scott Borchetta Responds

From: Scott Borchetta
Re: Aaron Lewis Track

Bob,

It would be too easy to just dismiss this missive...

But, you and I haven't had a good go in awhile… so, let's go…

Firstly, I believe in the First Amendment. My job has never been to tell my artists what to sing and write about. My job has always been about identifying unique talent with a unique voice and a unique point of view.

At the Big Machine Label Group we represent artists as diverse as Sheryl Crow singing "Woman In The White House" to Aaron Lewis singing "Am I The Only One" to Ray Wylie Hubbard to Tim McGraw to Thomas Rhett to Glen Campbell to Nikki Sixx/Rob Zombie/John5 (L.A. Rats) to Brantley Gilbert to Justin Moore to Florida Georgia Line to Brett Young to Lady A to Ayron Jones to Callista Clark and many more…

Aaron Lewis and I have political disagreements. But there are also things we agree on. I think that's the foundation for the idea of our country. It doesn't work if we're so divided that we can't reach across the aisle, have a conversation or an argument, and ultimately, shake hands. If we can't do that, and this moment is so divisive, we may never get our country back.

To just 'cancel' (drop) Aaron is ridiculous and I'm disappointed that you would even suggest such a thing. Comparing Aaron Lewis to the Ghetto Boys? That's a reach and a half…

You don't have to agree or acknowledge, but Aaron's message is speaking to millions of people.

Let it be a wake up call to reps and dems alike - be loud and be heard!

It woke you up. It inspired you to make a statement. It worked. And it's working. It's inspiring conversation.

You have no basis to attack the sales or streaming numbers as your context is not accurate. Our world is a building world, streaming world, terrestrial radio world, satellite radio world, social/Insta/TikTok world… it's everything you can imagine and all verticals must be managed.

This is just the beginning of this story.

Example - Nelly/FGL's "Lil Bit" came out in the Fall of 2020… it's now on a collision course with 9m US streams per week, it's well past platinum, it's Top 15 at Top 40 radio and breaking at Country radio. There is not always a set path for a hit record. And this isn't new. Your aforementioned Geffen Records spent a full year breaking GNR's "Welcome To The Jungle". If you had looked at first week GNR sales numbers and tried to project what that song and that band would have meant to the future of not just rock radio but its impact on culture, you would've missed it by a RnR Hall of Fame career.

Stop when it comes to criticizing first week sales and streams. You're only setting yourself up for failure and you're not representing the full story or picture.

Ironically and culturally, Aaron Lewis and Morgan Wallen have a helluva lot more in common with each other than either of them have with you. You're talking out both sides…

But that's why we read you.

You inspire conversation.

For that, I thank you.

Best to Felice,

Scott

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