It’s been something of a momentous week for BMG‘s recorded music efforts.
BMG-signed Rick Astley’s latest album 50 has today topped the UK Official Albums Chart in one of the market’s most high profile chart battles for some time.
50 is the third No.1 album to be released by the independent BMG in the UK after You Me At Six’s Cavalier Youth and alt-J’s This Is All Yours.
The LP (pictured inset) is Astley’s seventh studio album and his first to be released by the ‘new’ BMG.
The artist’s best-performing album in nearly three decades, 50 topped the chart ahead of the second studio LP from Sony‘s Tom Odell, Wrong Crowd.
“We are delighted for rick and proud to have been a part of this tremendous success story.”
Fred Casimir, BMG
On Tuesday, the two albums were just 14 sales apart with Odell in the lead, before Britain’s biggest-selling newspaper, The Sun, declared support for Astley – a big boost to BMG’s campaign.
Fred Casimir, BMG EVP Continental Europe, said, “From the moment we first started discussing this release right through this incredible week, Rick has been a real pleasure to work with. We are delighted for him and proud to have been a part of this tremendous success story.”
Alistair Norbury, EVP International Artists, said, “This campaign really epitomises BMG’s approach to the record business – focused, integrated internationally and results-driven.
“We believe there are many other artists who feel abandoned by the traditional labels who could benefit from the BMG approach.”
BMG UK EVP New Recordings Korda Marshall said, “BMG is all about the team and this is a classic example.
“I’d like to thank Fred for his vision in bringing Rick to BMG, Alistair for being the driving force behind the overall campaign and Pat Carr and the UK recordings team for delivering a detailed, effective and clever campaign on the ground.”
Astley celebrated with the team at BMG UK – which is headed up by Alexi Cory-Smith – this afternoon in London (pictured, main).
Meanwhile, over in Germany, BMG recording artist Max Giesinger takes the No.2 spot on the country’s singles chart with a special Euro 2016 edit of his track ’80 Millionen’.
The remix features voiceovers from the 2014 World Cup, at which Germany was crowned champion, and pledges 80 million supporters for the German national team.
The hit single is also No.1 on the iTunes charts in Germany.
However, it was pipped to Germany’s official No.1 single by the official UEFA Euro 2016 song, ‘This One’s For You’ performed by David Guetta.
BMG will take comfort, though, in the fact that Guetta’s track was co-written by two BMG songwriters – Afrojack and Giorgio Tuinfort.
“It’s not so long ago that we had no records on the charts. To now be worrying about whether we are number one or two or three is a sign of how far we’ve come.“Music Business Worldwide
