Independent publisher Imagemhas signed a distribution deal for China with R2G, which already works with the likes of INgrooves and Lyricfind.
R2G will license Imagem’s music rights exclusively to Chinese music services and mobile operators.
Andre de Raaff, Imagem Group CEO said, “We are excited to tap into R2G’s wealth of experience and expertise in the publishing licensing area in China and grow with the market as better licensing conditions prevail, very important for all the writers and publishers we represent.”
R2G is part of China Music Corporation (CMC) which is the largest music platform in the world in terms of active user base, and is also the largest digital music aggregator and licensing platform in China.
R2G has already concluded distribution deals with 2 of China’s leading music services Kugou and Kuwo, which are both part of CMC, with more deals to be announced soon.
“We are excited to tap into R2G’s wealth of experience and expertise in the publishing licensing area in China.”
Andre De Raaff, Imagem
Imagem Music’s pop catalogue includes such writers as Pink Floyd, Elvis Presley, Phil Collins, Genesis, Iron Maiden, Mark Ronson, Temper Trap, Bombay Bicycle Club and Daft Punk (pictured).
In addition, it owns some of the world’s leading catalogues in classical music, including Boosey & Hawkes – which represents composers from Aaron Copland and Igor Stravinsky to such contemporary artists as John Adams, Steve Reich and Karl Jenkins.
Imagem also owns Rodgers & Hammerstein, which controls the rights to musicals including The Sound of Music, Oklahoma! and The King And I, as well as representing works by Irving Berlin, Andrew Lloyd Webber and more.
Mathew Daniel, President of R2G, said, “Imagem has one of the most impressive music publishing catalogues in the world and we are delighted to be working with them as the music publishing market matures in China with music services starting to license publishing works.”
Imagem was formed in 2007 by Dutch pension fund ABP and music publishing firm CP Masters BV, and immediately went into acquisition mode.
In February 2008 it paid around $150m for assets including Rondor, Zomba UK and the BBC Catalogue – assets divested as a result of the industry-changing Universal Music Publishing Group and BMG Publishing merger.
In April 2008, Imagem paid $240 million (£125m) for classical music publisher Boosey & Hawkes, and then in 2009, it paid around $225 million to acquire publisher Rodgers & Hammerstein.
However, by spring 2014, Imagem CEO Andre De Raaff was seeking to offload the business for approximately $650m – a figure that was found to be too high for potential acquirers such as BMG.
At the end of that year, Imagem announced it was no longer for sale.Music Business Worldwide
