Nashville powerhouse label Big Machine – US home of Taylor Swift, as well as big name country acts including The Band Perry, Tim McGraw, Thomas Rhett and Florida Georgia Line – is to launch in the UK, making it the first big country music label to establish a British offshoot.

Big Machine will remain 100% independent, but will be based in the Universal Music Group offices in London’s Kensington High Street. Big Machine already has an exclusive distribution deal with ...