Sony to handle BMG’s Depeche Mode catalogue, Universal gets Black Sabbath

BMG has announced Sony Music Entertainment and Universal Music Group as distribution and marketing partners for its Depeche Mode and Black Sabbath catalogues respectively.

Thge ownership of both sets of artist masters arrived at the company via its acquisition of the Sanctuary (Sabbath) and Mute (Depeche) catalogues – both divestments from Universal Music’s purchase of EMI.

News of the two deals comes alongside the agreement between BMG and PIAS for the latter to provide digital and physical retail marketing, sales, manufacturing and distribution services for over 150,000 Mute and Sanctuary recordings for the world excluding USA and Canada.

INgrooves will provide the same services in the USA and Canada.

The appointments form part of BMG’s plan to upgrade the exploitation of the historic Sanctuary and Mute catalogues, and reflect its philosophy of seeking the best exploitation set-up for different types of repertoire.

In all cases BMG’s approach to rights management will see registration of works, royalty accounting, sales reporting and synch undertaken in-house, campaign planning and shipment control in collaboration with the partner, and digital and physical retail marketing, sales, manufacturing and distribution services handled by the partner.

“Partnership is core to the BMG philosophy, and so we are delighted to be working with these four great companies in order to optimise the exploitation of the Sanctuary and Mute catalogues,” said BMG EVP International Repertoire Fred Casimir.

Source: Music Week