Jean-Michel Jarre sells music publishing catalogue to BMG
21/07/2022 12:00
LONDON, July 21 (Reuters) - French electronic music pioneer
Jean-Michel Jarre has sold his entire music publishing back
catalogue to BMG, following in the footsteps of other performers
cashing in on their work.
In a statement on Thursday, BMG, owned by German media
company Bertelsmann AG, said the acquisition, for which it did
not disclose financial details, was the biggest single deal it
had done in France. It includes rights for Jarre's famed 1970s
albums "Oxygene" and "Equinoxe" and his writer’s income stream.
It also follows BMG's previous acquisition of sound
recordings of Jarre’s first three albums when the company bought
record label Francis Dreyfus Music in 2012.
"Jean-Michel Jarre is not only a ground-breaking pioneer in
electronic music, he is a polymath and a shining ambassador for
culture and internationalism," BMG Chief Executive Hartwig
Masuch said.
"Nearly fifty years after Oxygene burst upon the world, we
are delighted to build on our longstanding relationship to
become custodians of his music publishing rights."
Jarre, who has sold 85 million records, is known for his
striking sound and light concerts, performed against spectacular
backdrops including Paris' Eiffel Tower and the pyramids in
Cairo. At times, his shows have attracted huge audiences,
including 3.5 million spectators at his 1997 Moscow concert.
"This partnership with BMG means a lot to me... I am pleased
that my publishing back catalogue is sheltered here in Europe
and that my work will continue to grow in such good hands,"
Jarre said.
"Today is a new start allowing me to develop fresh ideas and
giving me the means to explore new territories."
In the past year, Justin Timberlake, Sting and Tina Turner
are among the music artists who have struck deals for their
work.
(Reporting by Marie-Louise Gumuchian
Editing by Raissa Kasolowsky)
((Marie-Louise.Gumuchian@thomsonreuters.com;))