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BMG said on Thursday (Oct. 18) that it will use Universal Music Group’s (UMG) commercial services division for the distribution of its physical recorded music, in what BMG CEO Thomas Coesfeld described as the first project of a burgeoning “alliance.” Last month, BMG announced it was winding down its agreement with Warner Music Group’s ADA […]
BMG has acquired the recorded music catalog of French DJ and artist Martin Solveig in what the company calls its biggest such deal in France to date. The sale includes the rights to around 130 tracks, including hits like “Intoxicated” and “+1,” and Solveig’s studio albums from 2002’s Sur la Terre to 2011’s Smash.
Solveig’s work joins a BMG France roster that includes Jean-Michel Jarre (recordings and publishing), Yuksek (recordings and publishing) and Thylacine (publishing). The previous largest recorded music acquisition by BMG in France was more than a decade ago when it purchased Francis Dreyfus Music (Dreyfus), the label which owned Jarre’s first albums.
BMG declined to offer financial details of the Solveig sale, which was brokered by Maximilien Jazani of Catalogue Associates.
Solveig has topped the Dance Club Songs chart twice in his career, first with 2011’s Dragonette-assisted “Hello” and then a year later with “The Night Out.” He’s also placed five tracks on the Hot Dance/Electronic Songs chart, including “All Day and Night,” “Hey Now” and “Juliet & Romeo.” His biggest mainstream hit, “Hello,” topped out at No. 46 on the Hot 100.
The success of “Hello” led to Solveig’s work on Madonna’s MDNA album — he co-wrote and co-produced three songs, including “Give Me All Your Luvin’” and “Turn Up the Radio.”
“Martin Solveig has created some of the most potent and successful electronic music of the past decade with a career which straddles the end of the download era and the emergence of streaming,” said Maximilian Kolb, BMG’s evp of repertoire & marketing across continental Europe. “We see significant potential to bring his music to a wider streaming audience.”
Solveig added, “In the process of selecting a partner to host and preserve my recordings, it was imperative for me to associate myself with a company that understands the intrinsic value of this music and is just as passionate about its future potential as I was in creating it. BMG has demonstrated exceptional motivation, and a genuine desire to perpetuate the exploitation of the tracks that are dear to me.”
News of the deal arrives amid a busy 2023 for BMG. So far this year, the company has struck catalog and/or rights deals with Jet, Paul Simon, The Pointer Sisters and George Harrison. In 2022, BMG acquired rights and royalties for Tina Turner, John Legend, Mötley Crüe, ZZ Top, Peter Frampton, Harry Nilsson, John Lee Hooker, Simple Minds, Primal Scream, and The Hollies, among others.
SYDNEY, Australia – As Jet flies through a particularly busy stretch, the reunited rock band strikes a catalog deal with BMG.
Terms were not disclosed in the arrangement, announced Thursday (Sept. 28), which sees BMG acquire Jet’s recordings.
BMG gets rights to the band’s first two albums for Australian and New Zealand, Get Born (2003) and Shine On (2006), the global royalty stream for these recordings in perpetuity, plus global rights to their third album Shaka Rock (2009).
Included in the pact are such Billboard Hot 100 hits as “Are You Gonna Be My Girl” (peaking at No. 29), “Look What You’ve Done” (No. 37), and “Cold Hard Bitch” (No. 55).
After years on the sidelines, the classic lineup of Nic Cester (vocals/guitar) his brother Chris Cester (vocals/drums), Cam Muncey (vocals/guitar) and Mark Wilson (bass) recently reformed ahead of their induction into the ARIA Hall of Fame, set for Nov. 15 during the annual ARIA Awards in Sydney.
They’re currently on the road for a national tour, a 20th anniversary celebration of Get Born, an album that won six ARIA Awards back in 2004, is nine-times platinum-certified, and recognized as one of the top 5 highest-selling Australian rock albums of all time.
BMG president, Australia, New Zealand and South-East Asia, Heath Johns negotiated what he describes as a landmark deal,” extending the global publishing pact between both parties, forged in 2017.
Jet, he continues, are a “generation-defining band who achieved global success of the rarest kind.”
All three studio albums impacted the top 40 on the Billboard 200 chart, and cracked the Official U.K. Albums Chart, with Get Born peaking at No. 14 and Shine On going one better, at No. 13. Career sales top 5 million, reps say.
Jet’s works have enjoyed a second life through syncs across international advertising campaigns, feature films, TV series and video game franchises, the most memorable an Apple iPod campaign in the 2000s featuring “Are You Gonna Be My Girl.”
BMG, explains Sydney-based Johns, “has become the fastest-growing music company in Australia via our organic recordings and publishing growth and now, as we expand our scope via acquisition, I can think of no bigger statement than the acquisition of the Jet catalog.”
Since opening for business in Australia in 2016, BMG has signed a roster of Australian and New Zealand acts including Chet Faker, Angus & Julia Stone (ANZ), Daniel Johns, Dope Lemon, Hockey Dad, Julia Stone, The Living End, Pacific Avenue, Ladyhawke, CHAII, Dune Rats and Winston Surfshirt.
“With big decisions like this it comes down to personal relationships. We’ve known the BMG team for years,” notes Chris Cester in a statement announcing the new agreement. “We’re already with BMG for our publishing and they do what they say they’re gonna do. That’s a rare thing in this business. Sooner or later you figure out that’s the only thing that matters, if you’re serious about what you do.”
BMG is exiting its current distribution agreement with Warner Music Group’s ADA and taking direct control of its 80 billion-stream digital business in a move the company called “the biggest change to its recorded music strategy” yet, according to a statement released Monday. The fourth largest global music company will begin phasing in the new […]
LONDON — BMG’s revenues jumped 11.5% to 414 million euros ($450 million) in the first half of 2023, fueled by strong growth in the company’s publishing business and a number of high-profile acquisitions, including a major interest in Paul Simon‘s portion of the Simon & Garfunkel catalog and a deal for George Harrison’s solo recordings.
The record label and publisher’s operating earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) were up 23% (on a constant currency basis) to 90 million euros ($98 million) at the mid-year point ended June 30, according to figures released Wednesday Aug. 30 by BMG’s German parent company Bertelsmann.
Classic songs from Blondie, Kurt Cobain, Daryl Hall & John Oates, Mick Jagger and Keith Richards – coupled with hit releases by contemporary artists like Lewis Capaldi and Austrian rapper RAF Camora — helped drive the company’s 62% of revenues that come from publishing. That equates to around 257 million euros ($280 million) by Billboard’s calculation (the company didn’t break out revenue numbers).
Recorded music represented 34% of revenue (around $152 million) with Jelly Roll, Kylie Minogue, Godsmack and Rita Ora among BMG’s top-selling recording artists. Among its most listened-to catalog titles were tracks by Motley Crue, Black Sabbath and George Harrison.
In total, BMG said its digital businesses accounted for 63% of revenue, down from 69% in the first half of the previous year. The company said the decrease was due to higher digital revenues being offset by stronger growth in live revenues, driven by a post-pandemic surge in touring.
BMG CEO Thomas Coesfeld, who took over from longstanding chief executive Hartwig Masuch July 1, said the double-digit percentage growth reflected the company’s “strong performance in the face of an increasingly tough market.”
“Against the background of a soft advertising market, a maturing subscription streaming business and a physical music market impacted by inflation-driven cost increases, this is a very positive result,” said Coesfeld in a statement.
Breaking down the revenues on a regional basis, the U.S. was BMG’s biggest market, generating 217 million euros ($236 million), a rise of £14 million euros ($15 million) on the first half of 2022. Germany was BMG’s second biggest market with revenues of 49 million euros ($53 million), followed by the United Kingdom, which brought in 42 million ($46 million).
BMG completed 15 acquisitions in the six-month reporting period, including a deal for Paul Simon’s royalty and neighboring rights income to the full recorded Simon & Garfunkel catalog. Other deals closed in the first half of this year included the acquisition of the song catalog of 1960s British band The Hollies and a share of the writer’s royalties from the heavily synced German Eurodance group SNAP!
In February, BMG reached an agreement with Dark Horse Records over George Harrison’s solo works, marking the first time that the former Beatle’s recorded and publishing rights have sat together under the same roof. To commemorate Harrison’s Feb. 25 birthday, Dark Horse and BMG released Harrison’s entire catalog in Dolby Atmos surround sound exclusively on Apple Music.
Alongside BMG, Bertelsmann’s media holdings include RTL Group, Penguin Random House and service provider Arvato. Bertelsmann reported total revenue of 9.7 billion euros ($10.6 billion) for the first six months of the year, up 4.5% on the previous year. Organic revenue growth was 2.3%.
If it’s Friday that means another spin around the Executive Turntable, Billboard’s comprehensive(ish) compendium of promotions, hirings, exits and firings — and all things in between — across the music industry. As the newly retired Charles Martinet likes to say, Let’s-a-go:
BMG promoted Tony Abner to global general counsel and executive vp of business and legal affairs of the music company, often billed as the world’s fourth largest after the three majors. Based in Berlin and reporting to BMG CEO Thomas Coesfeld, Abner manages the firm’s global legal teams and, as GC, advises senior management on all legal matters. Abner has been part of the BMG family since 2018, first as vp of business and legal affairs before adding an “s” to the title two years later. He was formerly based in Los Angeles before moving to Germany a year ago. Prior to BMG, he held executive posts at PMP Records and Loud Records, as well as senior attorney positions at Lenard & Gonzalez and Davis Shapiro Lewit Montone & Hayes.
Universal Music Group Nashville promoted Stephanie Alexa to svp of finance and operations, and Gary Keffer to vp of strategic marketing for the label group, which hems in Capitol Records Nashville, EMI Records Nashville, MCA Nashville and Mercury Nashville. Alexa has “transformed the finance department” during her five-year run as vp of finance, says UMGN evp and COO Mike Harris. Prior to joining Universal, she oversaw finance and business affairs at ATO Records. Keffer has over 20 years of experience in marketing, the seven with UMGN, where he and his team scour for ways to connect UMGN artists with brands, partners and wider audiences. Before pivoting to music, Keffer was director of media and partnerships at arms manufacturer Remington. “His expertise and attention to detail have ensured that our partners and artists are always supported for success,” glowed Lori Christian, the label group’s evp of marketing.
Mark Logsdon has been named vp of publicity at BMG Nashville, succeeding former vp of p Jay Jones, who exited earlier this year. Logsdon reports to evp of BMG Nashville JoJamie Hahr and in his new role, will lead the overall publicity strategy for BBR Music Group’s roster, including Jason Aldean, Jelly Roll, Lainey Wilson, Dustin Lynch, Chase Rice and Parmalee, as well as guiding BMG Nashville’s corporate communications. Logsdon previously worked at PLA Media, where he began in 2007 as a coordinator and rose through the ranks over the past 16 years to a vice president role. Prior to PLA, his career included time at Sony, RLM/Mission Management, and the Atlantis Music Conference. During his career, Logsdon’s clients have included The Tina Turner Museum, the Johnny Cash Museum, Patsy Cline Museum, the Birthplace of Country Music Museum, Warner/Chappell Production Music, RCA Studio A, Ingram Content Group, and artists including Tyler Williams, Michelle Wright and Lynn Anderson. –Jessica Nicholson
The Orchard hired music marketing mainstay Gita Williams as its new senior vp of artist and label services in the U.S., a role in which she’ll develop and market current roster artists — and sign future ones. She is based in Los Angeles and reports to Mary Ashley Johnson, evp of sales and artist and label services. Prior to joining the Sony-owned independent music distributor, Williams ran her own management and marketing firm, The Mehan Group, and before that held senior roles at Roc Nation, Epic Records, Interscope and RCA Records. “Gita’s experience in artist management and major label leadership roles will prove invaluable as we refine our Artist Services division and strive to achieve the best possible results for our clients,” noted Johnson. You can reach Williams at gita@theorchard.com.
John Dolak joined the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM), where he leads all communication and PR efforts for the music-and-sound trade show. The UCLA alum spent 20 years at Sony Electronics, where he rose to vp and head of communications and, notably, was the point person for participation and activations at major trade shows like CES and NAB. Additionally, NAMM announced the creation of a Member Services team, which consolidates the membership, professional development and public affairs departments. Zach Phillips, previously NAMM’s director of professional development, will now become director of member services. Erin Block, formerly NAMM’s associate director of registration and analytics, has been promoted to associate director of membership. You can reach Dolak at johnd@namm.org.
The International Bluegrass Music Association selected Ken White as the organization’s next executive director. Beginning Oct. 2, White will take over for Paul Schiminger, who held the role for six years before retiring in 2021 — but who then returned in March after Pat Morris’ resignation for personal reasons. White’s bluegrass bonafides include decades of writing and performing the art form in venues including Grand Ole Opry, Telluride Bluegrass Festival and the IBMA World of Bluegrass. For the last 21 years, he has led the Howerton+White integrated marketing agency, building the business to over 40 clients. Over the years he has also served as president of the Wichita Jazz Festival and co-produced a popular season concert series at Bartlett Arboretum in Belle Plaine, Kansas. White will be returning to Nashville for the IBMA gig.
Sound Talent Group hired veterans Jon Pleeter and John Lashnits as talent agents at the five-year-old independent booking agency. The LA-based Pleeter joins STG after working as vp of concerts at ICM, while New Yorker Lashnits arrives from APA. Both have client rosters that lean on the rock side of life, including Saving Abel and Saliva for Pleeter, and Destroy Boys and The Wrecks for Lashnits. STG was formed in 2018 by former UTA agents Dave Shapiro, Tim Borror and Matt Andersen, and boasts a vast — and diverse — roster that includes Calle 13, Clutch, Gwar, Hanson, Hatebreed, Hoobastank, Pierce the Veil, Story of the Year, Vanessa Carlton and many more.
Sony Music Publishing Nashville promoted Kenley Flynn to vp of creative A&R, where Flynn will be responsible for signing and developing talent, as well as driving creative opportunities on behalf of Sony Music Publishing Nashville’s roster. During his tenure at the company, Flynn has helped propel the creative success of breakout talent including Nate Smith (“Whiskey On You”), Trannie Anderson (Lainey Wilson’s “Heart Like A Truck”) and James McNair (Luke Combs’ “Going, Going, Gone”) as well as artists and writers including Madeline Merlo, David Morris, Tim Nichols, and Ben Hayslip. Flynn began his career at Combustion Music, before joining Sony in 2020 as senior director of creative A&R. “Kenley is a songwriter’s best friend,” said Josh Van Valkenburg, evp of creative at Sony Music Publishing Nashville. “Over the last few years, he’s been instrumental in building the careers of some of today’s biggest breakthrough hitmakers. This promotion is so well deserved.” –JN
Lauren Papapietro joined Warner Music Group as vp of communications for Rhino and Warner’s global catalog team. The 15-year PR veteran has the mighty task of helming publicity strategy campaigns for the catalogs of WMG/Rhino’s roster of icons, including one-namers like “Aretha,” “Frank,” “Sabbath,” “Otis,” “Madonna,” “Van,” “Halen” and… the list goes on. Pappapietro most recently served as head of publicity for Crush Music, where she worked with major acts, including WMG/Rhino artists Alanis Morissette and Green Day. Prior to that, she led publicity at Glassnote Entertainment Group. She is based in New York and reports to Kevin Gore, president of global catalog, recorded music at WMG.
ICYMI: Amazon Music’s head of hip-hop/R&B Tim Hinshaw is exiting the company to launch his own agency, Free Lunch … Recently photographed former president Donald Trump hired Gunna’s lawyer in his racketeering case in Atlanta … and longtime NPR programming executive Anya Grundmann is leaving the network after nearly 30 years.
SoundExchange said Tino Gagliardi, the newly elected president of the American Federation of Music, has joined its 18-seat Board of Directors. Gagliardi replaces recently retired AFM president Ray Hair on the board. “Tino is joining the SoundExchange Board of Directors at a pivotal time for the company and the music industry,” said Michael Huppe. “With his first-hand experience as an artist and expertise representing musicians for over 13 years, we couldn’t be more elated to welcome him to the board.”
Monument Records promoted Casey Thomas to director of marketing, publicity and creative. Additionally, Joel Beaver has been promoted to associate director of marketing. In her expanded role, Thomas will continue to oversee publicity and creative services, while taking on a more active role in marketing strategy, while Beaver will be responsible for marketing, brand partnerships, international and sync relations for the label’s roster which includes Alex Hall, Walker Hayes and Pillbox Patti. Thomas joined Monument from the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in 2018, and she previously served at Monument as director of PR and creative. Beaver joined Monument in 2017 as an intern and became a staffer a year later. Beaver has been in the center of marketing campaigns across the artist roster, most notably with Hayes and the buzzy “Fancy Like” campaign for Applebee’s. –JN
Partisan Records promoted Bryant Kitching to global director of communications. Previously director of publicity in the U.S., Kitching joined Partisan in 2018 and over the years has overseen press campaigns across Partisan’s entire roster, including PJ Harvey, IDLES, Fontaines DC, Laura Marling, the Fela Kuti estate, Beth Orton and more. He is based in NYC.
Nashville Notes: Space Colonel bulked up its management division by adding Jesse Schuster, Chris Mueller and Evan Hunsberger to its team. The Nashville-based entertainment company, launched by Adam Barnes and J.R. Denson in 2019, represents over 15 artists and producers, including Shooter Jennings, Jason Boland and new signee Beau Bedford. Space Colonel also launches S || C Records and is gearing up for the release of Lillie Mae’s upcoming third studio album … Black River Publishing hired Sarah Hudspeth as creative coordinator. Hudspeth will provide support to vp of publishing Rebekah Gordon and assist the creative staff in the company’s day-to-day operations … The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum hired R.J. Smith, a former editor for Los Angeles magazine and The Village Voice. The museum also promoted Sam Farahmand to director of creative content … Leo33 welcomed Tracy Gibson as director of promotion and marketing. She previously worked as Big Machine regional promotion director.
BMG has acquired a major interest in Paul Simon‘s portion of the Simon & Garfunkel catalog. This sale includes the Grammy winner and two-time Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee’s royalty income for all of Simon & Garfunkel’s recorded music as well as his neighboring rights income to that music as well. Simon & […]
During the National Music Publishers’ Association (NMPA) annual meeting on Wednesday, the trade organization announced its latest board of directors.
The latest executive board includes: Jody Gerson (Chair and CEO, Universal Music Publishing Group), Keith Hauprich (general counsel and executive vp, business and legal affairs, North America, BMG), Laurent Hubert (CEO, Kobalt), Carianne Marshall (co-chair and COO, Warner Chappell Music), Jon Platt (chair and CEO, Sony Music Publishing), Jim Selby (chief publishing executive, Concord).
Other board members include: Marti Cuevas (founder and president, Mayimba Music), Justin Kalifowitz (executive chairman, Downtown Music Publishing), Golnar Khosrowshahi (founder and CEO, Reservoir), Jody Klein (owner and CEO, ABKCO), Kenny MacPherson (CEO, Hipgnosis Songs Group), Chip McLean (svp, head of business affairs and business development, Disney Music Group), Larry Mestel (founder and CEO, Primary Wave), Michael Molinar (general manager, Big Machine Music), Jeff Pachman (general manager, Domino Publishing), Ralph Peer II (executive chair, peermusic), Irwin Robinson (vp, Richmond Organization), Jon Singer (chairman, Spirit Music Group).
The 20-member board comprises an executive board featuring leaders from the six largest companies according to revenue from the previous year, a general board of 12 additional publishing leaders, and two songwriters representing creatives’ point of view. To represent songwriters, the board elected Laura Veltz to replace Liz Rose, who recently reached her term limit of four years. Ross Golan is returning as the other songwriter representative.
Domino’s Pachman is this year’s only new publisher to join the board, replacing Leeds Levy.
All board members receive equal voting power and will meet four times annually to oversee the activity and budget of the NMPA. The board plays a major role in determining the legal actions of the trade organization, which is known to fight aggressively for fair pay and licensing for compositions.
This year, the NMPA is focused on new legal action it is taking against Twitter, which was also announced at Wednesday’s event. According to the complaint, the NMPA — along with over a dozen of music publishers — is suing Twitter over allegations of widespread copyright infringement, seeking as much as $255 million in damages.
BMG acquired the recording catalog of British band (and Rock & Roll Hall of Famers) The Hollies. The deal includes over 20 studio, compilation, live and tribute album titles and rarities that are wholly owned by the group, including Evolution and Butterfly (1967), Hollies Sing Dylan and Hollies Sing Hollies (1969), Confessions of the Mind (1970); Distant Light (1971), Romany (1972), Out on the Road (1973); Hollies (1974), Another Night (1975), Write On and Russian Roulette (1976), Hollies Live Hits (1977), A Crazy Steal (1978), Five Three One – Double Seven O Four (1979), Buddy Holly (1980), and Then, Now, Always (2009). The agreement encompasses eight of The Hollies’ most-streamed tracks, including “Carrie Anne,” “King Midas In Reverse,” “Jennifer Eccles,” “On A Carousel,” “He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother,” “Long Cool Woman (in a Black Dress)” and “The Air That I Breathe,” as well as the group’s cover versions of “4th of July, Asbury Park (Sandy)” (Bruce Springsteen), “Boulder to Birmingham” (Emmylou Harris) and “Say It Ain’t So, Jo” (Head).
Soundtrack Your Brand, a global music streaming service for businesses, announced a $15 million pre-growth round led by Matt Pincus‘ MUSIC in partnership with Liontree, JS Capital Management and Schusterman Family Investments. The round also included funding from music investors Dundee Partners and was supported by all major existing Soundtrack Your Brand investors including Balderton Capital, Fuel Venture Capital, Industrifonden, Telia and DIG. The investment will allow Soundtrack Your Brand to “double down” on its go-to-market strategy, according to a press release. Along with MUSIC’s investment, Pincus will join Soundtrack Your Brand’s board. In 2024, the company plans to raise an additional growth round.
ADA Worldwide partnered with Rostrum Records to distribute the indie label’s entire catalog and new releases. Recent Rostrum releases include Fat Nick’s “Songs on the Radio” and DC The Don’s “Funeral” as well as new music from Alé Araya and Brevin Kim. Forthcoming releases include music from Fat Nick, Lou Phelps and My Favorite Color.
Yoto, an audio platform for kids that’s behind screen-free portable audio players the Yoto Player and Yoto Mini, signed a deal with Warner Music Group that will make music from some of WMG’s artists available on the players. The partnership kicks off in June with music from Super Simple Songs, a popular YouTube channel boasting original children’s songs and traditional nursery rhymes that’s been distributed by WMG’s arts music division since 2020. Next year, Yoto will create “cards” featuring music from a curated group of WMG’s pop, rock and soul artists.
Believe signed a marketing and distribution deal with Global Records Germany, the new Berlin branch of independent label Global Records. The first release under the agreement is “Party Songs” by Gamuel Sori & INNA, which dropped June 9.
Terrace Martin — the artist, producer, and multi-instrumentalist known for working with Kendrick Lamar, Snoop Dogg, and Robert Glasper, among others — announced a partnership between BMG and his Sounds of Crenshaw label on Monday (May 22). The results will be six jazz albums, with the first of which is due out this summer. According […]