Sony Music Entertainment and BMG Unite to Create Sony BMG Music Entertainment
New Joint Venture Brings Together Premier Worldwide Labels and Top Global and
National Artists
NEW YORK, Aug. 5 /PRNewswire/ — Sony Music Entertainment and BMG have
completed the creation of Sony BMG Music Entertainment, a global recorded
music joint venture with a roster of current artists that includes a broad
array of both local artists and international superstars, as well as a vast
catalog that comprises some of the most important recordings in history. The
announcement was made today by Sony Corporation of America and Bertelsmann AG,
the parent companies, respectively, of Sony Music Entertainment and BMG. Sony
BMG will be headquartered in New York.
The joint venture will encompass some of the most influential and
successful record labels in the world, and a wide array of artists, including
Arista (Dido, Whitney Houston, Sarah McLachlan, and Santana); Columbia Records
(Aerosmith, Tony Bennett, Beyonce, Bob Dylan, Destiny’s Child, Dixie Chicks,
John Mayer, Nas, Jessica Simpson, Bruce Springsteen, Barbra Streisand, System
of a Down and Train); Epic Records (Anastacia, Good Charlotte, Incubus, Los
Lonely Boys, Modest Mouse, Jennifer Lopez); Jive (R. Kelly, Britney Spears,
Justin Timberlake); J Records (Alicia Keys, Annie Lennox, Maroon 5, Rod
Stewart); LaFace (OutKast, Pink, Usher); RCA Records (Christina Aguilera, Dave
Matthews Band, Avril Lavigne, Velvet Revolver); RLG-Nashville (Kenny Chesney,
Alan Jackson, Martina McBride); Sony Music Nashville (Buddy Jewell, Montgomery
Gentry, Travis Tritt, Gretchen Wilson); Sony Classical (Yo-Yo Ma, Joshua Bell,
composer John Williams, and Robert Downey, Jr.), BMG UK (Dido, Westlife, Will
Young), BMG Japan (Kazumasa Oda); BMG Ricordi (Eros Ramazzotti); and Sony
Music International (Adriano Celentano, Celine Dion, La Oreja de Van Gogh,
George Michael, Sade, Shakira, Julio Iglesias, Leonard Cohen, Delta Goodrem,
Bic Runga and Jay Chou), among many others.
In addition, Sony BMG Music Entertainment is the home of a broad variety
of archival recordings, including master works from such all-time greats as
Miles Davis, The Byrds, John Denver, Johnny Cash, Robert Johnson, Janis
Joplin, Barry Manilow, Louis Armstrong, Dolly Parton, Elvis Presley, Mahalia
Jackson, Vladimir Horowitz, Glenn Gould, Laura Nyro, Lou Reed and Stevie Ray
Vaughan.
Sony BMG Music Entertainment will be 50% owned by Bertelsmann and 50%
owned by Sony Corporation of America. The new company will be helmed by a
management team from both companies, including Andrew Lack, who will serve as
Chief Executive Officer, Sony BMG Music Entertainment (formerly Chairman and
Chief Executive Officer, Sony Music Entertainment). In addition, Michael
Smellie, formerly Chief Operating Officer, BMG, and Kevin Kelleher, formerly
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Sony Music
Entertainment, will each retain his role in the new company.
Sony BMG Music Entertainment will be governed by a Board of Directors
consisting of six representatives of Bertelsmann and Sony. Rolf Schmidt-Holtz
will serve as Chairman of the Board of Directors, Sony BMG Music Entertainment
(formerly Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, BMG). Board members will also
include Sir Howard Stringer, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Sony
Corporation of America, and Vice Chairman, Sony Corporation; Katsumi Ihara,
Executive Deputy President, Group CSO and CFO, Sony Corporation; Andrew Lack,
CEO of Sony BMG Music Entertainment; Gunter Thielen, Chairman and CEO of
Bertelsmann AG; and Siegfried Luther, Chief Financial Officer and Head of the
Bertelsmann AG Corporate Center.
The new company does not include the parent companies’ businesses in music
publishing, physical distribution and manufacturing, or Sony Corporation’s
recorded music business in Japan, SMEJ.
Andrew Lack, CEO, Sony BMG Music Entertainment, commented, “Sony BMG Music
Entertainment has access to an extraordinary array of creative resources,
ranging from a current roster that includes some of the most talented artists
in the world today, as well as an archive that encompasses some of the most
important and influential recordings ever made. By pooling the resources of
two of the most creative companies in the music industry we are perfectly
positioned to help our artists realize their creative goals, while at the same
time providing greater value to music consumers around the world. I look
forward to working with the entire Sony BMG team as we combine the very best
elements of both companies in order to create one of the most creative and
dynamic organizations in the history of recorded music and entertainment.”
Rolf Schmidt-Holtz, Chairman of the Board of Directors, Sony BMG Music
Entertainment, commented, “The creation of Sony BMG Music Entertainment is a
historic opportunity for us to build a new music company that we believe can
thrive creatively and financially in a highly challenging worldwide music
market. I look forward to working closely with Andy to develop a corporate
culture that draws on the best of everything Sony Music and BMG bring to the
joint venture. Andy and I are privileged to be working with some of the most
successful creative executives and artists in the business.”
Gunter Thielen, Chairman and CEO of Bertelsmann AG, commented, “Sony BMG
Music Entertainment is a global creative powerhouse with an exciting future.
The joint venture is home to international superstars, major national artists
and numerous talented newcomers. The music business offers abundant
opportunities for Sony BMG Music Entertainment to succeed. The joint venture
holds an excellent position in the market and has a superb management team.”
Sir Howard Stringer, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Sony
Corporation of America, said, “The announcement of Sony BMG Music
Entertainment marks the beginning of a new and critically important era in the
history of recorded music. Sony BMG Music Entertainment will combine the best
creative, operational and strategic assets of two very accomplished music
businesses, and provide a vital new platform to further the development of
talent and enjoyment of music around the world. Tremendous praise is due the
managements of both Sony Music Entertainment and BMG for the extraordinary
wisdom and vision with which they approached the negotiation and merger
process. They have created a bold new company which will provide consumers
with the best in music entertainment, and at the same time address the
important issues that will enable this art form to evolve and prosper into the
future.”
Sony Music and BMG labels include some of the world’s most influential and
successful artists in the world:
Asia (Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Philippines,
Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand)
Audy; Awie & Wings; Baim; Bo TK; Boyd; Jordan Chan; Jay Chou; Vic Chou;
Cokelat; Esnanas; F4; Gigi; Glenn;Yida Huang; Lim Hyung-Joo; Coco Lee; Indra
Lesmana; Modern Dog; Karen Mok; Mr Z; Kazumasa Oda; Misha Omar; Padi; Orange
Pekoe; The Peach Band; Project H; Pru; Radklao; AR Rahman; Ariel Rivera; Mae
Rivera; Lea Salonga; Sexbomb Girls; Sheila on 7; Shikao Suga; Superman Is
Dead; Tasya; Jolin Tsai; Faye Wong; Lee Soo Yong; Tata Young; The Fly; Tofu;
Chris Yu; Harlem Yu; Lee Hom Wang; Jacky Wu; Vaness Wu; Lu Yi; and Shaun Yung,
among many others.
Australia & New Zealand
Bachelor Girl; Merril Bainbridge; Eight; John Farnham; Brooke Fraser; Che
Fu; Delta Goodrem; Human Nature; Killing Heidi; Ben Lummis; Paulini; Pete
Murray; Shannon Noll; Bic Runga; Guy Sebastian; and Something for Kate, among
many others.
Canada
Leonard Cohen; Shawn Desman; Celine Dion; Garou; Guess Who; Chantal
Kreviazuk; Ryan Malcolm; Our Lady Peace; and Treble Charger, among many
others.
Europe (Greece, Portugal, Poland, Hungary, Czech Republic, Spain, Nordic,
Italy, Switzerland, Austria, Germany, France, UK/Ireland, Benelux, Russia and
Turkey)
113; Acda & de Munnik; Adiafa; Andy & Lucas; Articolo 31; Ariana; Austria
3; B-2; Claudio Baglioni; Dan Barta; Ebenove Bartir; Franco Battiato; Frans
Bauer; Beautiful South; Ana Belen; Benabar; Andrea Berg; Yavuz Bingol; Big
Brovaz; Bo Kaspers Orkester; Boryswwicz/Kukiz; Dany Brillant; Patrick Bruel;
Buty; Francis Cabrel; Luca Carboni; Yvonne Catterfeld; Adriano Celentano;
Chenoa; Charlotte Church; Richard Cocciante; Sarah Connor; Kiddy Contest;
Crystal; Zsuzsa Cserhati; Gigi D’Alessio; Lucio Dalla; Dan er braz; Pino
Daniele; Michal David; Desmod; Desperado; Dido; Die Fantastischen Vier; Die
Toten Holsen; Disco; Gemelli Diversi; Do; Jacques dutronc; Samuli Edelmann;
Bjorn Eidsvag; El Canto del Loco; Elan; Erann DD; Sertab Erener; Estopa;
Cesaria Evora; Faithless; Falco; Rainhard Fendrich; Patrick Fiori; Ewelina
Flinta; Fonky Family; Francesco de Gregori; Mario Frangoulis; Manolo Garcia;
Gareth Gates; Gimmel; Giorgia; Hubert von Goisem; Jean Jacques Goldman;
Gotthard; Thomas Helmig; Ozark Henry; Hooverphonic; Natalie Imbruglia;
Indochine; Patrik Isaksson; Jamiroquai; Peter Joback; K’s Choice; K3; Patricia
Kaas; Kane; Kasmir; Kayah; Anssi Kela; Kent; Krzysztof Krawczyk; KYO; LAAM; La
Oreja de Van Gogh; Las Ketchup; Janek Ledecky; Le Vibrazioni; Lemar; Annie
Lennox; LGT; Lordi; Lorie; Los Lunnis; Lucie; Peter Maffay; Manic Street
Preachers; Fiorella Mannoia; Anne Mattila; George Michael; Michael
Mittermeier; Gianni Morandi; Monica Naranjo; Tommy Nilsson; Kurt Nilsen;
Yannick Noah; Jaromir Nohavica; Oasis; Pascal Obispo; Patent Oschsner;
Outlandish; Hanna Pakarinen; Papermoon; Nina Pastori; David Pedersen; Petter;
Pluesch; Tezkej Pokondr; Gabor Presse; Primal Scream; Princess; Priscilla;
Eros Ramazzotti; Vlasta Redi; Antonis Remos; Rosario; Joaquin Sabina; Sade;
Alessandro Safina; James Sampson; Mathilde Santing; Serrat; Seer; SKA-P; Wim
Soutaer; Splean; Natasha St Pier; Support Lesbiens; Teddybears STHLM; The
Coral; The Eurythmics; Ana Torroja; Triantafilos; Tryo; Antti Tuisku; Magnus
Uggla; Pasion Vega; Antonello Venditti; Viagra; Anna Vissi; Laurent Voulzy;
Westlife; Xander; Will Young; Sophie Zelmani; and Renato Zero, among many
others.
Latin (US, Chile, Argentina, Mexico, Central America, Brazil, Colombia,
Ecuador, Venezula)
Marcelo Alvarez; Marc Anthony; Pepe Aguilar; Araketu; Ricardo Arjona;
Belinda; Beto Zabelata & Goyo Oviedo; Bruno e Marrone; Adriana Calcanhotto;
Capital Inicial; Ana Carolina; Roberto Carlos; Cristian Castro; Jorge Celedon;
Gustavo Cerati; Chancho en Piedra; Chayanne; Cidade Negra; Celia Cruz; Franco
D’Vita; Diomedes Diaz; Eliana; Elefante; Erreway; Fabio Junior; Alejandro
Fernandez; Vicente Fernandez; Ana Gabriel; Gabriel O Pensador; Victor Garcia;
Alejandra Guzman; Ha-Ash; Daniela Herrero; Nicho Hinojosa; Julio Iglesias;
Jaguares; Javiera & Los Imposibles; Kevin Johansen; Kalimba; KLB; Natalia
Lafourcade; Victor Manuelle; Gian Marco; Marcela Morelo; Ednita Nazario;
Leonardo; MAIA; Natalia Oreiro; Pandora; Cass Phang; Alexandre Pires; Planet
Hemp; Rouge; Jota Quest; Sin Bandera; Maria Jose Quintanilla; Orquesta
Salserin; SPC; Gilberto Santa Rosa; Padre Marcelo Rossi; Shakira; Skank;
Soledad; Gloria Trevi; Diego Torres; Los Hermanos Zuleta; Julieta Venegas;
Marcos Witt; and Zeze di Camargo & Luciano, among many others.
South Africa
Brothers of Peace; Jabu & Vuyo; Joyous Celebration; Hugh Masekela;
Mafikizolo; Imvuselelo Yase Natali; Anke Pietrangeli; Judith Sephuma; Tshepo
Tshola; and Heinz Winckler.
United States
Aerosmith; Tori Amos; Anastacia; Marc Anthony; Chevelle; Christina
Aguilera; Alabama; Audioslave; Joshua Bell; Tony Bennett; Beyonce; David
Bowie; Bow Wow; Brooks & Dunn; The Calling; Kenny Chesney; Kelly Clarkson;
Harry Connick, Jr.; Dave Matthews Band; Destiny’s Child; Neil Diamond; Dixie
Chicks; Robert Downey, Jr.; Duran Duran; Bob Dylan; Foo Fighters; Franz
Ferdinand; Ginuwine; Good Charlotte; Montgomery Gentry; Lauryn Hill; Whitney
Houston; Alan Jackson; Buddy Jewell; Billy Joel; Jose Jose; Incubus; R. Kelly;
Alicia Keys; Avril Lavigne; Lil Flip; Lonestar; Jennifer Lopez; Los Lonely
Boys; Lostprophets; Patty Loveless; Yo-Yo Ma; Vanessa Mae; Maroon 5; Ricky
Martin; John Mayer; Martina McBride; Sarah McLachlan; Modest Mouse; Jane
Monheit; Monica; Nas; Offspring; OutKast; Ozzy Osbourne; Brad Paisley; Murray
Perahia; Pink; Santana; Jill Scott; Jessica Simpson; Britney Spears; Bruce
Springsteen; Rod Stewart; Barbra Streisand; Switchfoot; System of a Down; Tan
Dun; Justin Timberlake; Train; Travis Tritt; Tyrese; Usher; Luther Vandross;
Vangelis; Velvet Revolver; Vertical Horizon; John Williams (composer); John
Williams (guitarist); Gretchen Wilson; and Xzibit, among many others.