International music company uniting music publishing, record label operations, sync licensing, theatrical rights and digital distribution.
BMG Rights Management GmbH
Berlin · Nashville · New York · Los Angeles · London · Paris · Madrid · Milano · Hilversum · Stockholm · Beijing · Hong Kong · Sydney · São Paulo · Toronto · Ciudad de MéxicoNew on Amplifa
About BMG
BMG is an international music company with its operational headquarters in Berlin and its global head office in Nashville. The company was re-founded on 1 October 2008 following Bertelsmann's exit from the Sony BMG joint venture and combines the activities of a music publisher (Publishing) with those of a record label (Recorded Music). Its service portfolio also includes Sync & Licensing, Theatrical Rights and digital distribution. BMG represents rights in works by artists, songwriters and composers such as the Rolling Stones, Tina Turner, David Bowie, Phil Collins, Kylie Minogue, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Jelly Roll, Nena, Roger Waters, Iggy Pop and Quincy Jones. Following the merger with Concord in 2026, the company is represented with 18 offices worldwide and belongs to Bertelsmann SE & Co. KGaA, with a minority stake held by companies of Great Mountain Partners. For the 2022 fiscal year, BMG reported revenue of around 866 million euros. The parent company BMG Rights Management GmbH is registered at the Charlottenburg local court under HRB 116072 B.
- Site
- Berlin
- Processes
- Music Publishing, Recorded Music (Record Label), Sync & Licensing, Theatrical Rights, Digital Distribution
- Materials
- Music Publishing, Recorded Music (Record Label), Sync & Licensing, Theatrical Rights, Digital Distribution
- Founded
- 2008
- Industries
- Music industry, Media, Entertainment
- 01
Music rights acquisition (signing, catalogue purchase)
- 02
Publishing and label administration (copyright management)
- 03
Licensing & Sync
- 04
Distribution (physical and digital)
- 05
Rights enforcement & royalty distribution
Business Areas
Music Publishing
Administration and exploitation of composition rights for artists, songwriters and composers.
Recorded Music (Record Label)
Exploitation of recording rights, among others via labels such as Mute Records, Sanctuary Records and the BBR Music Group.
Sync & Licensing
Licensing of music rights for film, television, advertising and media.
Theatrical Rights
Representation of dramatic works, including the rights of Tennessee Williams and Rodgers & Hammerstein.
Digital Distribution
Self-distribution of the catalogue on digital platforms; physical distribution since 2023/24 via Universal Music.
Industries
Additional services
Reference customers
History
- 1950er
Bertelsmann enters the music market (Ariola, Sonopress); origin of the Music Group.
- 1987
Consolidation of the music subsidiaries into Bertelsmann Music Group (BMG).
- 2003
Merging of the music businesses of Bertelsmann and Sony into Sony BMG.
- 2006
Sale of BMG Music Publishing to Universal/Vivendi.
- 2008
Bertelsmann exits Sony BMG; BMG is re-founded on 1 October 2008 with its seat in Berlin.
- 2009
KKR holds 51%; acquisition of Cherry Lane Music Publishing (entry into the USA).
- 2010
Acquisition of Evergreen Copyright Acquisitions.
- 2011
Acquisition of Bug Music.
- 2012
Acquisition of R2M Music and Mute Records.
- 2013
KKR exit; Bertelsmann becomes sole shareholder; acquisition of Sanctuary Records, representation of the Rolling Stones and Robbie Williams.
- 2016
BMG becomes an independent business division of Bertelsmann; acquisition of ARC Music, The End Records and Basement (Brazil); cooperation with Alibaba and Warner ADL.
- 2017
Acquisition of BBR Music Group (over 100 million USD, the largest record company acquisition in the company's history).
- 2022
Acquisition of the Schlager label Telamo; founding of the British label Tag8 Music.
- 2023
Thomas Coesfeld takes over the CEO role from Hartwig Masuch (1 July); switch of physical distribution to Universal Music.
- 2026
Merger of BMG and Concord under the name BMG; head office in Nashville.