The corporate has acquired the recorded music catalog of Nation music famous person JasonAldean.
The acquisition is a part of a broader deal that sees the corporate purchase pursuits within the recorded catalogs and publishing rights of a music assortment from what it calls a “cross-section” of 23artists and songwriters. BMG mentioned on Thursday (September 18) that your entire acquisition encompasses over 1,000 songs throughout a number of genres.
BMG mentioned that the general deal represents its “single largest catalog acquisition funding” up to now, and brings the corporate’s whole funding in music rights for the reason that launch of father or mother firm Bertelsmann’s Increase program in 2021 to greater than $1.5 billion.
The deal is price round USD $250 million, in keeping with MBW’s sources.
The acquisition of Aldean’s recorded catalog and neighboring rights brings his whole music profession underneath BMG once more, for the reason that firm first acquired BBR Music Group in 2017.
The deal spans 9 studio albums from his Platinum-certified self-titled debut in 2005 by means of the chart-topping 9 in 2019, with BMG’s BBR Music Group imprint Damaged Bow Information persevering with to launch his following albums Macon, Georgia in 2021-2022 and Freeway Desperado in 2023.
MBW’s sources additionally inform us that the deal contains some grasp recordings from US punk rock band Dropkick Murphys, and that Spirit Music Group is the vendor.
Jason Aldean’s recorded music catalog was beforehand acquired by Spirit Music Group in February 2022 in a deal we reported on the time to be price greater than $100 million.
We famous on the time that the Spirit acquisition included 90% of Aldean’s recorded music catalog and encompassed 9 albums in whole. That acquisition by Spirit in 2022 additionally included neighbouring rights and SoundExchange royalties. MBW reported on the time that Aldean was retaining the remaining 10% possession within the catalog.
All of these 9 albums had traditionally been launched through Damaged Bow Information, which BMG acquired in 2017 for $103 million.
BMG/Damaged Bow confirmed in 2022 that it could proceed to be the unique licensed label companion for Aldean’s data till a minimum of 2030.
“This landmark deal units a brand new stage of catalog acquisitions at BMG, whereas underscoring our dedication to the music and the self-discipline of our strategy,” mentioned BMG CEO Thomas Coesfeld on Thursday.
“This landmark deal units a brand new stage of catalog acquisitions at BMG, whereas underscoring our dedication to the music and the self-discipline of our strategy.”
Thomas Coesfeld
Added Coesfeld: “By bringing collectively the enduring catalog of Jason Aldean, we’re strengthening our footprint in Nation music whereas increasing throughout genres and deepening our funding within the US – the world’s largest music market.
“This transfer highlights our capacity to maximise the worth of music rights and represents a strong step in BMG’s technique to be the simplest, artist-first music firm on this planet.”
“BBR Music Group and BMG have all the time proven an actual dedication to my music and a perception in me as an artist.”
Jason Aldean
Aldean mentioned: “BBR Music Group and BMG have all the time proven an actual dedication to my music and a perception in me as an artist.
“Understanding all of my music is within the fingers of my long-time label workforce makes this a full-circle second, and I’m proud to have my songs proceed their journey with them by means of this subsequent chapter.”
“For thousands and thousands, these albums mark key moments of their lives, which makes bringing them again to the place the place they have been born all of the extra significant.”
Jon Loba
Jon Loba, President, Frontline Recordings, The Americas, mentioned: “Jason Aldean’s debut album was not solely an enormous business success, it helped outline the sound of Nation Music for years to come back.
“Whereas his signature model has remained a standard thread throughout each launch, Jason has persistently pushed the envelope each sonically and lyrically. His unwavering dedication to evolution has ensured that every new album delivers one thing contemporary for followers, whereas persevering with to form the course of the style itself.
“For thousands and thousands, these albums mark key moments of their lives, which makes bringing them again to the place the place they have been born all of the extra significant.”
BMG revealed in its H1 outcomes that it had accomplished 17 catalog acquisitions through the first six months of 2025, which it mentioned have been carried out in step with Bertelsmann’s “Bertelsmann Increase” technique.
Bertlesmann mentioned on the time that these 17 offers introduced BMG’s whole funding in music rights catalogs since 2021 to round EUR €1.2 billion.
Right now’s replace pushes that quantity as much as USD $1.5 billion. The common EUR-USD alternate price for H1 2025, per the European Central Financial institution, would put that beforehand printed Euro determine of €1.2 billion at roughly USD $1.3 billion.
That suggests (clearly with a good quantity of attainable variance) that this deal would have been round $200 million, which roughly correlates with what we’re listening to from our sources.
BMG CEO Thomas Coesfeld mentioned the corporate’s M&A method in an interview with MBW following the corporate’s outcomes final month.
He mentioned: “Fueled by Bertelsmann’s Increase program, our funding technique continues to be a vivid spot, with 17 acquisitions within the first half of 2025, bringing whole investments in music rights catalogs since 2021 to EUR €1.2 billion and persistently delivering robust returns.”
Coesfeld additionally outlined the primary standards for catalogs or firms that BMG is trying to purchase within the 2025 market: “When evaluating catalogs or firms, our essential standards embody the standard and lasting relevance of the repertoire, the power and monitor report of the artists and songwriters, and the potential to create incremental worth,” he mentioned.
“We proceed to take a disciplined, value-driven strategy to acquisitions.”
Elsewhere at BMG, Monti Olson was just lately appointed by BMG to supervise the corporate’s music publishing operations as Government Vice President, Publishing, North America.
The exec will lead BMG’s publishing A&R and artistic administration groups, and in keeping with the corporate, may also “drive new signings and catalog acquisitions”.Music Enterprise Worldwide
