French electronic music pioneer Jean-Michel Jarre has sold his entire music publishing back catalog to BMG - the world's fourth largest label - following the example of other artists who have profited from their work.
In a statement released Thursday (July 21st), BMG, owned by German media company Bertelsmann AG, said the acquisition, for which it did not disclose financial details, was the largest deal it had made in France. .
It includes the rights to the famous albums
Oxygène
and
Equinoxe
by Jean-Michel Jarre, published in the 1970s, as well as the income of its authors.
This contract also follows the acquisition by BMG of the sound recordings of the first three albums of Jean-Michel Jarre during the takeover of the Francis Dreyfus Music record company in 2012.
"Jean-Michel Jarre is not only a pioneer of electronic music is a polymath and a brilliant ambassador of culture and internationalism,”
said Hartwig Masuch, CEO of BMG.
“Nearly fifty years after the eruption of
Oxygene
worldwide, we are delighted to build on our longstanding relationship to become stewards of its music publishing rights.”
The composer, who has sold 85 million records, is known for his striking sound and light concerts, performed in spectacular settings such as the Eiffel Tower in Paris and the pyramids in Cairo.
His shows have sometimes attracted huge audiences, including 3.5 million spectators at his concert in Moscow in 1997.
Read alsoJean-Michel Jarre, connected composer
"This partnership with BMG means a lot to me...I'm happy that my publishing back catalog is housed here in Europe, and that my work continues to thrive in such good hands,"
said Jarre.
"Today is a new beginning that allows me to develop new ideas and gives me the means to explore new territories."
Recently, Justin Timberlake, Sting or even Tina Turner have also sold their catalog.
