Universal eyes BMG Music Publishing

[Bellamy]

Universal eyes BMG Music Publishing

Tentative deal said to be for $2 billion

 

LOS ANGELES — Vivendi SA's Universal Music Group reached a tentative agreement with German media company Bertelsmann AG to acquire BMG Music Publishing for $2.05 billion in cash, a person familiar with the deal said Tuesday.

 

The agreement was expected to be signed as early as today, according to the person, who spoke on condition of anonymity to The Associated Press, citing the confidential nature of the negotiations.

 

Both companies maintain offices in Nashville and it isn't clear how the deal would affect operations in Nashville.

 

Universal edged out a slate of rival bidders for the publishing unit, the person said.

 

Universal is the biggest recorded music company in the world. The BMG publishing unit is expected to be absorbed by Universal Music Publishing Group, making it the largest music publisher.

 

BMG Music Publishing owns the rights to more than a million songs by recording artists such as Nelly and Maroon 5, as well as classic hits by the Beach Boys, Barry Manilow and other entertainers.

 

BMG's country catalog includes songs ranging from Rascal Flatts' hit "Bless The Broken Road" to Martina McBride's "God's Will" to Trace Adkins' "Songs About Me."

 

The company also owns Brentwood-Benson Music Publishing, a Franklin-based publisher of more than 70,000 Christian and gospel copyrights. The company is separate from the major record label Sony BMG Music Entertainment, which also maintains a sizable presence in Music City.

 

Universal Music Publishing Nashville's collection includes songs such as Shania Twain's "You're Still the One" and "That Don't Impress Me Much," as well as material from noncountry artists such as Celine Dion and Eric Clapton.

 

Bertelsmann put its music publishing business up for sale earlier this year to help finance a $5.8 billion bridge loan used to buy back a 25.1 percent stake held by Groupe Bruxelles Lambert.

 

The move, announced in May, freed Bertelsmann from the prospect of an initial public offering for the stake.

 

The BMG Music Publishing sale is subject to regulatory approval by U.S. and E.U. officials.

 

The deal is not expected to face the same antitrust scrutiny that would apply if two record companies were merging because music publishing revenues are derived from song licensing, not from selling to consumers.

http://www.tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/ar...ENTERTAINMENT50

[CSCfan]

Guess Universal will be getting their hands on Shania's catalogue yet again..

[Bellamy]

Guess Universal will be getting their hands on Shania's catalogue yet again.. 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Is it a bad thing?

[catwomanrrr]

I have a feeling this might go in the a circle. Some day, Bertelsmann Media (The Mother of BMG) might someday buy out Universal.

[CSCfan]

Guess Universal will be getting their hands on Shania's catalogue yet again.. 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Is it a bad thing?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Very. Mercury/Universal sucks. And there's a reason she left them (Publishing, not label (unfortunately)).. and now it seems that move was futile..

 

I have a feeling this might go in the a circle. Some day, Bertelsmann Media (The Mother of BMG) might someday buy out Universal.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

The label/record company or Publishing? The chances of the former would be extremely slim, since Universal is the biggest record company (Sony & BMG merged to be able to compete with Universal and become the 2nd biggest record company). The latter is not possible, coz it's the other way around right now..

[catwomanrrr]

Guess Universal will be getting their hands on Shania's catalogue yet again.. 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Is it a bad thing?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Very. Mercury/Universal sucks. And there's a reason she left them (Publishing, not label (unfortunately)).. and now it seems that move was futile..

 

I have a feeling this might go in the a circle. Some day, Bertelsmann Media (The Mother of BMG) might someday buy out Universal.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

The label/record company or Publishing? The chances of the former would be extremely slim, since Universal is the biggest record company (Sony & BMG merged to be able to compete with Universal and become the 2nd biggest record company). The latter is not possible, coz it's the other way around right now..

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Universal's name is so proper, eh?

[CSCfan]

Too proper..