Black Label Media is a Los Angeles based independent film production, television production, podcast, entertainment and finance company founded in 2013. [1] The company had a 25 percent stake in La La Land (2016). [1]
The company was founded in 2013 by Molly Smith, the daughter of billionaire Frederick W. Smith who founded FedEx and invested in the company, [1] and Thad Luckinbill, an actor on Young and the Restless for 11 years, and twin brother Trent Luckinbill. [1]
The origins of Black Label Media were started as Belle Pictures, an affiliated production company of Alcon Entertainment and Warner Bros., [2] but the company soon underwent name change, with Black Label Media's intentions was to focus on adult, mid-level budget fare, for greater flexibility and autonomy. [3]
The name of the company was taken from the American Express Centurion "Black Card" and in part by Johnnie Walker Black whiskey. [1]
On April 12, 2016, the company launched its television division with a deal at ABC Signature and ABC Studios, to develop television and movie projects. [4] On April 24, 2017, two of Black Label Media's projects, like Only the Brave and Sicario: Day of the Soldado, were transferred from Lionsgate to Sony Pictures. [5]
On June 27, 2019, it expanded to podcasts with a deal at the Bleav Podcast Network. [6] On February 11, 2020, Alcon Entertainment teamed up with Black Label Media to purchase the film rights to Postscript. [7] On September 4, 2020, Sony Pictures Entertainment announced that it would acquire Devotion, with STX Entertainment handling international rights of the picture, with Black Label Media producing. [8]