BMG has acquired what it says are “the key music interests” of legendary Scottish rock band Simple Minds.
According to BMG, the agreement with the band’s core members Jim Kerr and Charlie Burchill includes the publishing rights to more than 240 songs across five UK No.1 albums, the band’s neighboring rights and royalties from their entire recorded catalog.
BMG says that the acquisition of the Simple Minds catalog is its eighth acquisition in the UK this year. The company announced in April that it had acquired a 50% stake in Primal Scream’s music publishing interests.
BMG notes that the deal marks the culmination of a long-standing relationship between BMG and Simple Minds.
The company has previously served as the administrator of the band’s publishing catalog and released their 2018 album Walk Between Worlds.
Last month, BMG announced that it will release the band’s latest studio album, Direction Of The Heart, on October 21.
Focused around frontman Jim Kerr and guitarist and keyboardist Charlie Burchill, Simple Minds have generated career sales of over 60 million albums.
Their five Official UK Albums Chart No.1s include Sparkle in the Rain (1984), Once Upon a Time (1985), Live in the City of Light (1987), Street Fighting Years (1989) and Glittering Prize 81/92 (1992).
The band were awarded the Q Inspiration Award in 2014 for their contribution to the music industry and in 2016 were awarded the Ivor Novello Award for Outstanding Song Collection.
Some of the band’s key songs include Love Song, The American, Promised You A Miracle, Glittering Prize, Waterfront, Someone Somewhere in Summertime, Alive And Kicking and Belfast Child.
US No.1, Don’t You (Forget About Me), was written by Keith Forsey, meaning it does not fall under the publishing acquisition, but BMG says it will collect recorded and neighboring rights royalties from the track.
After a two-year hiatus caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, Simple Minds started touring again on March 31, playing to over 500,000 people across Europe.
The tour will continue through the summer, concluding on September 17 in Leeds, England, with a headline slot at the Radio 2 Live Festival.
“There are few bands who can claim to have changed music, but over a period of 45 years Simple Minds have done precisely that.”
Alistair Norbury, BMG
Alistair Norbury, BMG President Repertoire & Marketing UK, said: “There are few bands who can claim to have changed music, but over a period of 45 years Simple Minds have done precisely that.
“It has been a long courtship, but we are delighted to have the opportunity to be custodians of their outstanding catalog. We are thrilled that BMG is now the musical home of Simple Minds, past, present, and future.”
“We are very pleased to have struck this deal. It feels like the right time for us and our families. We look forward to working with everyone at BMG.”
Jim Kerr
Jim Kerr said: “We are very pleased to have struck this deal. It feels like the right time for us and our families. We look forward to working with everyone at BMG.”
BMG’s deal with Simple Minds in the UK follows other recent acquisitions of rights from artists including Mick Fleetwood, Tina Turner, ZZ Top, and Mötley Crüe.Music Business Worldwide
