BMG Rights Management

History

Music at Bertelsmann

Main article: Bertelsmann Music Group

In the 1950s, Bertelsmann entered the music business when it added music to its book club. Ariola, a record label, was launched and Sonopress, a pressing plant, was established. In 1975, Ariola opened an office in the United States. Bertelsmann acquired Arista Records in 1979 and half ownership of RCA Records in 1985, thereby becoming one of the world's largest music companies. After the full acquisition of RCA Records in 1987, Bertelsmann's various subsidiaries were brought together to form Bertelsmann Music Group (BMG), which covered a number of genres, including folk, pop, and especially classical music.

In response to declining sales in the overall music market, Bertelsmann agreed to merge its record label interests with Sony in 2003; the company was called Sony BMG. Furthermore, in 2006, Bertelsmann sold its subsidiary BMG Music Publishing to Universal Music Group. Having reached the conclusion that established music publishing companies and record labels were not appropriate for an increasingly digital music business, Bertelsmann sold its stake in the Sony BMG joint venture in 2008. The company was subsequently renamed Sony Music Entertainment.

Launch of the new BMG

In October 2008, Bertelsmann launched the new BMG with a small portfolio of recorded music rights of around 200 artists it retained from Sony BMG. It declared it would pursue a business model focused on fairness, service and transparency.

The launch of the new BMG came amidst the 2008 financial crisis, and within two weeks of the collapse of Lehman Brothers. Since Bertelsmann could not supply the required funds on its own, a 51% stake was sold to financial investor KKR in 2009. Bertelsmann retained 49% and the right to appoint the company's management. The transaction allowed BMG to increase its equity ratio.

International expansion

Initially, Bertelsmann had announced that the new BMG would focus on the European broadcast market. After KKR became the majority shareholder, the company set its sights on expanding internationally. A key step towards achieving this goal was acquiring Cherry Lane Music Publishing in 2009, which provided BMG with its first foothold in the United States. BMG made several other purchases in 2010, including Evergreen Copyright Acquisitions.

In 2011, Bug Music was bought by BMG, followed by music publisher R2M Music in 2012. Bertelsmann was also reported to be interested in buying EMI, but EMI was ultimately acquired by Universal Music Group and Warner Music Group (record labels) and Sony/ATV Music Publishing (songwriters). The regulatory authorities approved the deal subject to some conditions, including the sale of several labels. BMG was thus able to acquire Mute Records (2012) and Sanctuary Records (2013), as well as the publishing catalogues of EMI Virgin Music and Famous Music UK from Sony/ATV.

Becoming a group division

In 2013, KKR sold its stake in BMG to Bertelsmann, making it the sole shareholder of the company. Under the leadership of Chief Executive Officer Thomas Rabe, who had been a key driver of BMG's expansion during his time as Chief Financial Officer, Bertelsmann again cited music as one of its strategic growth areas.

In 2013, the company began to represent rights to songs by Robbie Williams and the Rolling Stones. Record labels were also added to the portfolio including Union Square Music (distributor of Universal Music's ZTT Records and Stiff Records), Vagrant Music and Infectious Music (2014), as well as S-Curve Records and Rise Records (2015). Other acquisitions followed in 2016, including the label ARC Music and the catalog of The End Records. By acquiring Basement, BMG entered the market in Brazil, one of Bertelsmann's growth regions. In 2016, the company also signed an agreement with Warner Music's Alternative Distribution Alliance for the physical and digital distribution of music, allowing BMG to consolidate its longstanding sales structures. BMG further expanded by entering the Chinese market in cooperation with Alibaba, allowing the online company to distribute the work of musicians and composers via its web channels while securing copyrights.

In the 2015 financial year, BMG was part of the Corporate Investments division at Bertelsmann. In 2016, the media group turned the subsidiary into a stand-alone division. Today, BMG is considered a prime example of how growth platforms are created and leveraged at Bertelsmann.

Acquisition of BBR Music and new labels

In 2017, BMG announced the purchase of BBR Music Group, including the labels Broken Bow Records, Red Bow Records, Stoney Creek Records, Wheelhouse Records and the music publisher Magic Mustang Music. With a value of more than 100 million dollars, the transaction was the largest recorded music acquisition in the company's history. BMG thus improved its position in the country music segment and ensured its long-term presence in the Nashville music industry and its overall impact on the United States market.

In 2022, BMG announced its first new British record label within the group since 2009, Tag8 Music. This label was set up in association with ex-Bros member Craig Logan and his management company Logan Media Entertainment, with Tag8 Music featuring established acts such as Pixie Lott, Roachford, and Louise Redknapp as part of its roster. On the Official Albums Chart of 4 November 2022, the label charted its first hit album in the form of Blue's Heart & Soul.

In October 2023, BMG signed with Universal Music Group for physical distribution, and started self-distributing its own catalog on digital platforms, thus ending their partnership with Warner Music. The transition of physical distribution to Universal took place over the course of 2024, and the change was completed later on October 2024.

Corporate structure

BMG's parent enterprise is BMG Rights Management GmbH, a limited liability company according to German law. The company's objective is "the marketing of music, as well as its development and delivery" for use in media, at concerts and for other purposes. BMG has numerous subsidiaries and shareholdings, for example, BMG Rights Management (Europe) GmbH. In addition to Germany, BMG is present in Australia, Brazil, China, France, Italy, Spain, the UK, the Benelux countries, the United States, Canada, and Scandinavia.

As of December 2025, BMG's senior management includes Thomas Coesfeld (Chief Executive Officer), Mathis Wolter (Chief Financial Officer), Melanie McAllister (Chief Human Resources Officer) and Sebastian Hentzschel (Chief Operating Officer). Masuch has been a member of Bertelsmann's Group Management Committee since 2013.

In the 2018 financial year, BMG posted revenues of €545 million. Rights and licenses accounted for 91.1% and products and merchandise 8.9%. Almost half of its revenues (44.1%) were generated in the United States. Other important markets were the United Kingdom (24.7%), Germany (6.3%) and France (3.9%).

Business model

BMG offers musicians the services generally provided by music publishers and record labels. Unlike its major competitors, it runs them under the same roof and on the same technology platform. More recently, it has added film, television, and books to its roster of services.

Publishing

BMG publishing represents the rights of songwriters.

Production music

BMG has a significant library of production music (library music), for use in films, television, advertising, and other media. These catalogues include MusicDirector (part of Talpa Music), Human Music, Music Beyond, X-Ray Dog, Beds & Beats, Valentino Production Music, Immediate Music, AXS Music, Altitude Music, and Must Save Jane.

Labels

• 19 Records
• 43B
• Too Lost LLC
• BBR Music Group
  • Broken Bow Records
  • Stoney Creek Records
  • Wheelhouse Records
• Rise Records
• S-Curve Records (back catalogue)
• Infectious Music
• Vagrant Records
• BMG Chrysalis (restructured and consolidated in 2016 and 2017 by incorporating BMG 10 Music, BMG FM Music and BMG VM Music)
  • The Echo Label
  • Go-Feet Records
  • MAM Records
• Mute Records (pre-2010 catalogue)
• Union Square Music
  • Salvo
  • Metro
• Skint Records
  • Loaded Records
  • Skyblaze Recordings
• Sanctuary Records Group
  • Castle Communications
  • Pye Records
  • Precision Records and Tapes
  • Transatlantic Records
  • Sugar Hill Records
  • CMC International
  • Mayan Records
  • Neat Records
  • Noise Records
  • RAS Records
  • Trojan Records
    • Jet Records
    • Upsetter Records
  • Urban Records
• Countdown Media
  • Alshire/Somerset
  • Everest Records
  • Mediaphon
  • Dobre Records
  • SRP Records
  • Glove Music
  • Alto Records
• RAM Records
• RBC Records
• World Circuit Records
• Disques Dreyfus
• Albert Music
  • Albert Productions
• The End Records
• Verse Music Group
  • Golden Records
  • Bethlehem Records
  • Salsoul Records
  • West End Records
• Pete Waterman Entertainment
• Paracadute
• Strictly Rhythm (back catalogue)
• Dark Horse Records
• Cavalcade Recordings
• BMG Talpa Music (Netherlands)
• BMG Production Music
• Cheyenne Records
• Intertwine (joint venture with Eshy Gazit)
• Modern Recordings
• Telamo
• Renew Records
• OM Records (joint-venture with Olympique de Marseille)
• Tag8 Music
• Queenie Records

Awards

• 2016, 2017, 2018: "Independent Publisher of the Year" by American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers
• 2018: "Production Music Awards" for BMG Production Music
• 2018: "Publisher of the Year", A&R Awards, United Kingdom

References

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