BMG has struck a new long-term exclusive agreement with Netflix to manage and administer the on-demand video giant’s music publishing rights worldwide outside the US.
The agreement sees BMG elected as the worldwide exclusive music partner for Netflix-created hit movies and TV shows such as The Queen’s Gambit, The Crown, Extraction, Stranger Things, and Emily In Paris.
Netflix has increased its subscriber numbers by two-thirds to over 204 million in more than 190 million countries since it struck its first deal with BMG in 2017.
BMG said in a statement that the new Netflix deal was agreed “after a competitive pitch against the world’s largest music companies”.
BMG CEO Hartwig Masuch said, “When the most technologically savvy entertainment company in the world chooses your platform to manage its precious music rights, that’s an endorsement. We are delighted to extend our successful collaboration with Netflix.”
“When the most technologically savvy entertainment company in the world chooses your platform to manage its precious music rights, that’s an endorsement.”
Hartwig Masuch, BMG
Netflix Vice President, Music Legal, Dominic Houston said, “BMG has been an outstanding partner to us – both a trusted third party and an innovator in the administration of music rights. This deal will allow us to continue to provide exceptional production support to our creators, while bringing the very best music to our members around the world.”
The agreement between BMG and Netflix includes score, transition cues, themes, and feature songs for all content owned by Netflix for its Netflix Originals, such as TV series, feature films, documentary features, and other original content.
BMG says its pitch to Netflix focused on processes and technology, with the firm “highlighting [our] ability to marshal a global rights and royalties team working together to ensure efficient registration, fast-track international royalty payments, identify new approaches to income tracking, and deliver access to BMG’s technology platform with APIs for data & insights sharing”.
BMG CIO and EVP Global Royalties Sebastian Hentzschel said, “We’re incredibly excited to extend our partnership with Netflix as the company continues to expand its subscriber base and original content all over the world. I believe that together we’re setting new benchmarks for audio-visual rights administration.”
Netflix will benefit from BMG’s cloud-based rights management platform, a class-leading security rating and royalty technology that uses artificial intelligence algorithms to optimize matching.
Netflix joins ITV Studios and Fremantle Media in BMG’s film and TV client list, together with Amblin Partners, the content creation company led by Steven Spielberg. Other BMG admin clients include socially-inspired film company Participant Media, US television networks AMC Network and Turner Broadcasting (TBS), American independent film company and distributor Global Asylum and Rede Globo’s Som Livre.
Keith Hauprich, BMG General Counsel US, said, “The BMG service means giving film and TV clients exactly the same care and attention as the latest breakout artist. The processes may be different but the passion and commitment are just the same. We are proud that Netflix has opted for BMG.”Music Business Worldwide
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