History[edit]
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]