BMG buys the rights to Fleetwood Mac

Specifically, these rights were bought from former member and band founder Mick Fleetwood.

Once upon a time – from 2008 to around 2015 – BMG was without a doubt the company with the most acquisitions in the music rights space.

All that has changed in recent years, with BMG retreating significantly from the M&A market. The market has seen plenty of well-funded players like Hipgnosis Songs Fund, Round Hill, and Primary Wave keep raising huge sums. At the same time, though, they keep spending it too.

Indeed, MBW understands that nearly three years have passed since BMG made a full-scale music rights acquisition. Instead, the company shifted its focus to organic growth, with positive results. After years of successive double-digit increases, BMG's half-year revenue rose once again. In the first six months of 2020, that revenue reached $308 million.

"This partnership is a sign of my past. Now it becomes a sign of my future too. BMG was the company that understood that right away."

Mick Fleetwood

Today, however, BMG announced its return to the acquisition table. It also showed the music industry that it still has the resources to make serious music purchases again and again.

The company, which belongs to Bertelsmann, confirmed it fully acquired Mick Fleetwood's rights to over 300 recordings. These include Fleetwood Mac's biggest hits.

An important distinction: this doesn't mean BMG has acquired the core underlying rights to classic catalogue albums like Rumors and Tango In The Night, which belong to Warner Music Group.

The BMG acquisition includes Mick Fleetwood's interest in all of Fleetwood Mac's recorded work, except their first two albums

This means that, from now on, whenever certain Fleetwood Mac records make money, BMG makes money too. (The BMG acquisition includes Mick Fleetwood's interest in all of Fleetwood Mac's recorded work, except their first two albums.)

As a result, BMG will now share in the ongoing global success of Dreams on TikTok. That phenomenon generated over 3.2 billion views/streams worldwide in an eight-week period in the second half of 2020.

Other Fleetwood Mac hits covered by the deal include recordings. These are tracks like The Chain, Go Your Own Way and Landslide from albums including Fleetwood Mac (1975), Rumors (1977) and Tango In The Night (1987).

Today's news continues the acquisition trend within Fleetwood Mac's ranks. In December, Stevie Nicks sold 80% of her stake in her publishing rights to Primary Wave for around $80 million. Earlier this month, Lindsey Buckingham sold 100% of his song rights to Hipgnosis Songs Fund for an undisclosed fee.

Mick Fleetwood said, "This is a wonderful, inspired marriage between two creative partners who understand every aspect of the business. Above all, BMG understands the art and puts the artist first. This partnership is a sign of my past. Now it becomes a sign of my future too. BMG was the company that understood that right away."

"Mick Fleetwood is a blend of the greatest rock bands. He has united music from every generation."

Hartwig Masuch, BMG

This acquisition strengthens an ongoing relationship between Fleetwood and the company. A relationship that includes theatrical work, recordings, and the publication of Mick Fleetwood & Friends' multimedia book. A book that will include the 2020 tribute to legendary guitarist Peter Green and Fleetwood Mac's early years.

BMG CEO Hartwig Masuch said: "Mick Fleetwood is the foundation of one of rock's greatest bands. He has a unique talent for bringing musicians of every kind together and, of course, he's one of rock's greatest drummers. BMG is proud to represent his greatest work and thrilled about the upcoming release of Mick Fleetwood & Friends."

The sale of Mick Fleetwood's recordings was brokered by the artist's manager Carl Stubner of Shelter Music Group. This is a company that became an in-house partner of BMG last year.

Stubner said: "For over 50 years Mick's work has continued to win legions of new fans. At the same time, BMG keeps making sure its artists get their fair share. We work in an industry that isn't always known for taking care of its iconic artists. BMG keeps maximizing its revenue streams."

"We work in an industry that isn't always known for taking care of its iconic artists. BMG keeps maximizing its revenue streams."

Carl Stubner, Shelter Music Group

BMG EVP Group Strategy and M&A Justus Haerder said: "This acquisition underscores the value of timeless recordings. All this in a streaming market that increasingly favours established artists over newer ones. Recent acquisition activity in the music market has focused on music publishing. This, however, is a pure investment in recordings.

"Catalogues like Fleetwood Mac's, which connect with every generation, benefit disproportionately from this growth."

"This acquisition underscores the value of timeless recordings. All this in a streaming market that increasingly favours established artists over newer ones."

Justus Haerder, BMG

Mick Fleetwood formed Fleetwood Mac with John 'Mac' McVie in 1967 alongside guitarists Peter Green and Jeremy Spencer. The band's breakthrough came with their third album, Them Play On. It contained the hit singles "Albatross" and "Man Of The World." The band, however, broke up amid substance problems and relationship troubles.

Their golden era began in July 1975 with a new lineup and the release of Fleetwood Mac, their first US number one. A string of classic records followed, including Tusk, Mirage, Tango In The Night and The Dance. Fleetwood Mac have sold over 120 million records worldwide and were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1998.