BMG has extended its long-term deal with German collection society GEMA to license digital services to another 48 territories.
BMG already licenses Anglo-American repertoire to digital services through GEMA subsidiary ARESA in 38 European countries. To these it now adds 48 territories, including Russia, Turkey, the Middle East and Africa, which all together boast a total potential population of music fans of more than 1.3 billion.
It has also committed to extend its relationship with GEMA to license through ARESA, which first started in 2012, until 2021.
The ARESA structure is designed to optimize payments to BMG writers as well as simplifying licensing for music users. ARESA licensees include Apple, Spotify, Amazon, Deezer, YouTube and Facebook.
Among the 1.6 million songwriters whose rights are represented by ARESA are Bruno Mars, Roger Waters, Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, Quincy Jones, M.I.A., John Legend, Johnny Cash, Tears for Fears, The Chemical Brothers, Aphex Twin, Willie Dixon, Steven Tyler, Hank Williams, Kings of Leon, Bring Me The Horizon and Bibi Bourelly.
Among recent and current hits represented by ARESA are:
- ‘Meant To Be’, co-written and performed by BMG client Bebe Rexha;
- ‘No Brainer’, co-written by BMG clients Nicholas Balding, Jason Boyd, DJ Khaled and David Park, performed by DJ Khaled (feat. Justin Bieber, Chance The Rapper & Quavo);
- ‘Rockstar’, co-written by BMG client 21 Savage, performed by Post Malone feat. 21 Savage;
- ‘Girls Like You’, co-written by BMG client Jason Evigan, performed by Maroon 5;
- ‘Girl Crush’, co-written by BMG client Hillary Lindsey, performed by Little Big Town;
- ‘I’ll Be There’, co-written by Black Butter/BMG client Jess Glynne and BMG client Camille Purcell, performed by Jess Glynne;
- ‘Shotgun’, co-written by BMG clients Joel Pott and George Ezra, performed by George Ezra;
- ‘Solo’, co-written by Camille Purcell, performed by Clean Bandit (feat. Demi Lovato);
- ‘Gold Rush’, co-written by BMG client Benjamin Gibbard, performed by Death Cab For Cutie;
- ‘Promises’, co-written by BMG client Jessie Reyez, performed by Calvin Harris & Sam Smith;
- ‘The Middle’, co-written by BMG clients Jordan Johnson and Marcus Lomax, performed by Zedd, Marian Morris & Grey
BMG CEO Hartwig Masuch said, “Ensuring songwriters get the money they deserve in the streaming age is a simple concept but an incredibly complicated process. We are delighted to extend our relationship with GEMA through ARESA to make sure BMG’s writers continue to receive a world-class service. Under our previous deal BMG already reached a potential 531 million music fans through ARESA, but this new extension of our relationship takes that to more than 1.8 billion.”
Dr. Harald Heker, GEMA CEO said, “For six years, GEMA has, together with BMG, been facilitating a transparent and efficient licensing process for Anglo-American music all over Europe. I am pleased that we continue this successful cooperation and now also expand it far beyond Europe’s borders. We have a strong partner in BMG in order to meet the challenges of digital music licensing and to develop up-to-date licensing models.”
BMG General Counsel Ama Walton said, “Licensing digital services with GEMA through ARESA benefits our writers in terms of speed, efficiency and transparency. It also makes life easier for music users by providing a one-stop-shop for the mechanical rights of our Anglo-American writers.”
Dr. Kaspar Kunisch, MD, ARESA, said, “Digital music exploitation and the diversification of digital music services are fast-paced. In order to allow composers and lyricists to participate in the financial remuneration from the streaming and download sectors in the best possible way, we need flexible and innovative solutions. We are excited to support BMG to reach this objective together with our partner ICE.”
ICE, a joint venture by GEMA, PRS and STIM takes over the processing of the usage notifications and the work documentation in the joint ICE database – the most authoritative work database of its kind in the world.
For further information, please contact
BMG – Anne Kiedaisch – anne.kiedaisch@bmg.com – +49 30 300 133 302
GEMA – Nadine Remus – nremus@gema.de – +49 89 48003-583
ICE – Hayley Miller – hayley.miller@iceservices.localhost +44 (0) 203 741 4919
About BMG
BMG is the new model music company founded by Bertelsmann in 2008 as a direct response to the challenges of music’s digital revolution. Key to its innovative approach is the fact it represents the traditionally separate music publishing and recording rights off the same state-of-the-art platform internationally. BMG is already the world’s fourth biggest music publisher and the first new global player in the recordings business in decades. BMG’s pitch is unique – a relentless focus on fairness and transparency and service to its artist and songwriter clients. BMG’s 15 offices across 12 core music markets now represent over 2,5m songs and recordings, including the catalogues of Chrysalis, Bug, Virgin, Mute, Sanctuary, Primary Wave and Talpa Music, as well as literally thousands of artists and songwriters attracted by its fresh approach. BMG is owned by international media, services and education company Bertelsmann, which also includes the broadcaster RTL Group, the trade book publisher Penguin Random House, the magazine publisher Gruner + Jahr, the service provider Arvato, the Bertelsmann Printing Group, the Bertelsmann Education Group, and Bertelsmann Investments, an international network of funds. With its multi-platform perspective, integrated technology platform and commitment to help artists maximize their income, BMG aims to be the best company in music to do business with. www.bmg.com
About ARESA
ARESA is a 100% GEMA subsidiary, which has been responsible for central licensing of mechanical rights for Anglo-American repertoire of BMG Rights Management for music streaming and download sectors in the European Economic Area and additionally specified countries since 01 July 2012. ARESA GmbH was founded as a result of the online recommendation of the European Commission dated 18 October 2005. www.aresa-music.com
About GEMA
GEMA represents the copyright of more than 72,000 members (composers, lyricists and music publishers) in Germany, and more than two million copyright owners globally. It is one of the largest societies for authors of musical works in the world. www.gema.de
About ICE
ICE is a joint licensing and processing service by the three collective management organisations GEMA (Germany), PRS for Music (UK) and STIM (Sweden). The joint venture services include copyright documentation, licensing of digital music services and processing of digital usage reports. Since 2016, ICE offers music users the online repertoire of GEMA, PRS for Music and STIM in the form of a one-stop-shop across Europe. The enterprise represents more than 290,000 rights owners and looks after licensing agreements with more than 50 digital service providers. www.icerights-com