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By Design, a Nashville-based modern music company, announces its global partnership with BMG, the fourth largest music company in the world, following the company's recent launch under the leadership of industry experts Josh Bailey, Jeremy Holley, Rod Riley and Josh Thompson. The partnership will include worldwide distribution, label services, joint label signings and a co-investment strategy across catalog acquisitions via Archetype Music.
“Faith-driven music has long been of particular interest to many members of the BMG team,” shares Jon Loba, President of Frontline Recordings, BMG Americas. “Even though we have not specifically engaged in that line of business, there has always been the desire and intention to do so. The opportunity to partner with By Design offered the perfect, complimentary alliance with exceptional, proven industry executives, who have the same heart and artist-first approach to music as BMG. We are so incredibly excited to join forces with Rod, Jeremy, both Josh's and the entire By Design team, to enter a global genre that is one of the most powerful cultural forces rising today.”
“We partnered with BMG to scale purpose-driven music without compromising values,” shares By Design co-founder Josh Thompson. “Their global reach empowers us to honor each artist's original design – and share it on a global stage."
“We believe the next global movement in music will be rooted in faith and community, not algorithms and trends,” says Josh Bailey, By Design co-founder. “With BMG's international infrastructure and our shared commitment to empowering artists, we're building a new kind of platform, one that's both spiritually grounded and globally scaled.”
Photo ID (L-R, Back row): By Design's Jeremy Holley, BBR Music Group/BMG Nashville's Peter Strickland, By Design's Josh Bailey Front row: By Design's Josh Thompson, By Design's Rod Riley, BMG's Jon Loba, BBR Music Group/BMG Nashville's JoJamie Hahr Photo credit: William KingBy Design was formed to champion artists who lead with purpose, creators shaped by faith, driven by originality, and committed to cultural impact. The label recently announced, as part of a larger ecosystem comprised of three core entities: By Design, a modern music company where creators unlock their original designs; Archetype Music, a music rights holding company that acquires Christian music catalogs; and Blueprint, a nonprofit on mission to disciple, equip and empower Gospel centered creators. By Design unveils with a genre-spanning roster that includes chart-topping country artist Frankie Ballard, pop-folk storyteller Zoe Levert and rising singer/songwriter Alex Jude, with additional artist signings to be announced.
The company operates on six key values – a kingdom vision, focused team, trusted relationships, cultivating audiences, strategic disruption and data-driven results – with a mission to reshape the future of music through purpose-driven creativity, industry expertise and a commitment to faith-driven innovation.
Christian music is one of the fastest-growing genres, capturing young audiences across social media and global DSPs. Faith-fueled music is resonating beyond religious spaces with an increase in demand for faith-based content surging.
“By Design exists to champion the creators behind this movement, artists who carry purpose in their message and originality into a culture hungry for meaning,” shares Jeremy Holley, By Design co-founder.
ABOUT BY DESIGN:
Founded in 2025 by industry leaders Josh Bailey, Josh Thompson, Rod Riley and Jeremy Holley, By Design is a modern music company where creators unlock their original design. Based in Nashville, By Design cultivates a creator-first approach through intentional investment in artist development, strategic guidance, trusted relationships and visionary execution. Rooted in Kingdom values, the company is recrafting the future of music and shaping culture through innovation, creative excellence and purpose-driven storytelling.
ABOUT ARCHETYPE MUSIC:
Founded in 2025, Archetype Music is a music rights holding company that acquires and manages Christian music catalogs. Based in Nashville, Archetype partners with artists and rights holders to preserve legacy while unlocking long-term value through disciplined acquisitions, strategic stewardship and innovative growth strategies. With deep expertise in capital markets, catalog management and artist relationships, the company is elevating the music rights space with integrity, excellence and purpose.
ABOUT BMG:
Founded in 2008, BMG reimagined the relationship between music companies, songwriters, and artists by offering fairer contracts, greater creative freedom, and unparalleled transparency in royalties and licensing. Now the fourth-largest music company in the world, BMG combines human creativity with cutting-edge technology to connect music with global audiences. With 18 offices across 13 key markets, BMG represents more than three million songs and recordings, including some of the most iconic catalogs and works from leading artists and songwriters including The Rolling Stones, Tina Turner, George Harrison, Blondie, and more. BMG is wholly owned and privately held by the international media, services and education company Bertelsmann, whose other content businesses include the entertainment company RTL Group and the trade book publisher Penguin Random House.
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