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BMG Music Sold To French Holding

September 06, 2006 | Other
The German media company Bertelsmann has sold BMG Music Publishing to the French group Vivendi for 1.63 Billion euro. The deal is no surprise for insinders. Last May, Bertelsmann announced the possible sale of the music catalogue. BMG owns the rights to over one million titles, including the hits of Robbie Williams, Mariah Carey and Elvis.
Source:ElvisMatters
RonBaker wrote on September 06, 2006
Does this mean another round of re-issues??? I hope this company has integrity and will release his original catalog of albums instead.
PTCJones wrote on September 06, 2006
This has an air of George Orwell about it. The biggest music company in the World just merged with the second biggest. I think with less competition, us as consumers will ultimately suffer in the long term.
Tony C wrote on September 07, 2006
Regarding the first posting, the sale of a music publishing company will not mean that CD's will be re-issued or re-packacked, as affects the publishing rights only. As for the second posting, surely this sale makes the company smaller rather than bigger. Regarding Elvis, his recordings still in copyright will only ever be owned by one company, so I fail to see how the size of that company has any relevance to the fans.
PTCJones wrote on September 07, 2006
What are you talking about Kilburn? How can two of the biggest publishing companies in the world merging make them smaller? Sounds bizarre, but you are probably a know it all so please enlighten me. RCA owns Elvis. RCA were bought out in the 80's by BMG. BMG merged with Sony in 2004, so I fail to see who the one company is that owns Elvis' music. Looks like two multinational companies to me.
PTCJones wrote on September 07, 2006
..I am also aware that this is regarding publishing rights and not the recording aspect.
JerryNodak wrote on September 07, 2006
I don't expect to see any changes as far as releases and such. It'll be business as usual.
Tony C wrote on September 11, 2006
Mr. Jones, if you read the above piece you will discover that the subject refers to BMG selling off it's publishing arm and not the Sony/BMG merger. That's how it makes BMG smaller, not bigger. As for being a know it all, simply reading the above news item would have explained it. The one company that owns Elvis' music catalogue is now BMG/Sony. Prior to that it was BMG, before that RCA, before that Sun. Elvis' recordings have always been exclusively owned by the current owner. Jerry, you're right. It's merely a business decision which will have no affect on us at all.
PTCJones wrote on September 14, 2006
Hate to burst your bubble there Kilburn. Sony and Bertelsmann AG are 2 companies that each have a 50% share. Sony BMG Music Entertainment, Inc. is the result of a 50/50 joint venture between Sony Music Entertainment (part of Sony) and BMG Entertainment (part of Bertelsmann) completed on August 5, 2004. If the EU have anything to do with it though, they may well return to a single company. And I mentioned that it was the publishing side and not recording if you simply read my additional article. Yes BMG have sold one of their 6 divisions, which I guess makes them smaller as a company but they were the third biggest and they have sold to the biggest. You initially argued my point, when I wasn't even talking about BMG specifically but about the market in general.