BMG has acquired two notable publishing catalogues in Greater China – EWorld and J.Music.
EWorld is a leading independent music publisher in the region, founded by Alan Ho and twin brothers Lee Shih Shiong and Lee Wei Shiong – producer/ songwriters who dominated the Asian music scene in the early Nineties.
J.Music is a music publisher founded in Hong Kong in 2002 by renowned producer/ songwriter Joanus Lam.
The news comes eight months after BMG struck a digital deal with retail giant Alibaba in China, a move which the music company said would push the region into its Top 10 lucrative markets.
”With these first two acquisitions in Greater China, BMG is demonstrating its confidence in and long-term commitment to the Asian market, said Dora Yi, Chief Investment Officer at BMG Greater China.
“These two great catalogues form the foundation for what BMG intends to be significant future growth in China.”
EWorld owns publishing rights to a string of hits by 30 million-selling Singaporean Stefanie Sun including ‘Tian Hei Hei’, ‘Kai Shi Dong Liao’, ‘Wo Yao De Xing Fu’ and ‘Wo Bu Nan Guo’, all written by the Lee brothers.
“We designed the new BMG from the outset as a company with a genuinely globalised outlook.”
Hartwig Masuch, BMG
The catalogue also includes big sellers performed by Na Ying (‘Yi Xiao Er Guo’), Jolin Tsai (‘Guan Xing Bei Pan’), A Mei (‘Yes or No’), Jane Zhang (‘Wo Men Shuo Hao De’), Hacken Lee (‘Fei Hua’), Laure Shang (‘Bei Shang Hua Er Zi’), Yu Quan (‘Ting Wo De’) and Gigi Leung (‘Dan Xiao Gui’).
The works are notable for their broad geographical appeal, including Mandarin, Cantonese and Malaysian lyrics.
J.Music’s artists have produced music for both Cantonese and Mandarin singers.
Andy Chow (‘14 days’ and ‘Mu Hei’) contributed the majority of musical works in J.Music’s catalogue.
The catalogue also includes most of the works created by active singer\songwriters Louis Cheung (‘2013’and ‘Mad U So’), early works created by popular lyrists Xiao Ke (‘Meng’ for Joey Yung, ‘Allegro Opus 3.3AM’ for Eason Chan and ‘If I were Eason Chan’ for the band Mr.), Eric Leung (‘Wo Men De Hu Shi Tuo’ for C AllStar and ‘Yu Gong’ for the band Kolor).
Before its Alibaba move, BMG grew its presence in China via a deal with Giant Jump, a leading Chinese music and entertainment company, to manage all Giant Jump’s recording and music publishing rights, both domestically and internationally.
It also signed an exclusive songwriter deal with one of China’s most renowned literary figures Feng Tang.
BMG CEO Hartwig Masuch said, “We designed the new BMG from the outset as a company with a genuinely globalized outlook.
“The rapid growth of our Chinese operation vindicates that approach.”Music Business Worldwide
