BMG has strengthened its interest in Eurodance chart-toppers SNAP! with the acquisition of the writer’s share of royalties of the group’s Michael Münzing.
The deal gives BMG a further share in SNAP!’s Nineties hits including The Power and Rhythm Is A Dancer.
BMG acquired the SNAP! recorded music catalog in 2018 and says that it has “gone on to become a significant sync earner”.
Snap! is a German Eurodance and Trance project founded in 1989 by Frankfurt producers Michael Münzing and Luca Anzilotti.
With their debut The Power, they had a hit in 1990 that combined elements of hip-hop and dance. Other hit singles followed, including Ooops Up (1990), Rhythm Is a Dancer (1992) and Welcome to Tomorrow (1994), accumulating 1.4 billion streams to date.
BMG says that “the acquisition of the writer’s share is thought to be the first of its kind in Germany over the last years”.
“The specific legal status of writers in Continental Europe makes writer’s share acquisitions complex and challenging,” said BMG SVP Business & Legal Affairs Continental Europe, Lueder Castringius. “We are pleased to have resolved this in a way which could benefit many other writers.”
The deal was supported by Michael Münzing’s lawyers Karsten Dropmann and Götz Kiso of Kiso Siefert Dropmann (Germany) who advised him in the transaction.
Elsewhere in the Eurodance genre, in 2022, BMG acquired the music interests of Haddaway whose What Is Love was a massive hit worldwide.
The track reached No.1 in 13 countries, No.2 in Germany, Sweden, and the UK and No.11 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Elsewhere, in June, BMG acquired Paul Simon royalty streams from Simon & Garfunkel recordings in what it said was a “significant transaction”.
Also in 2023 so far, BMG’s deals have included its acquisition of the recordings catalog of The Hollies.
“SNAP! are a cultural touchstone for the Nineties which continues to resonate today, not just in streaming but also in synch.”
Maximilian Kolb, BMG
BMG EVP Repertoire & Marketing Maximilian Kolb said: “SNAP! are a cultural touchstone for the Nineties which continues to resonate today, not just in streaming but also in synch.
“We are pleased to have agreed terms with Michael Münzing which will allow to further secure the value of these great works.”Music Business Worldwide