BMG signs Roger Waters for Floyd catalogue

BMG has signed Roger Waters to a long-term administration deal to represent his songs in the Pink Floyd catalogue. Terms of the deal were not disclosed, or which territories it covers.

Waters was previously with Warner/Chappell, with whom he last re-signed with in 2010. 

The deal begins with Floyd’s debut album Piper At The Gates Of Dawn through to the legendary The Dark Side Of The Moon, Wish You Were Here, Animals, The Wall to The Final Cut.

BMG will represent perennials including Money, Wish You Were Here, Another Brick In The Wall and co-writes as Comfortably Numb and Shine On You Crazy Diamond. 

“This is another major milestone for Bertelsmann and BMG,” said Thomas Rabe, Chairman and CEO of parent company Bertelsmann. “We warmly welcome Roger Waters to Bertelsmann. Our company has always been a home for the greatest creative talent in music, literature, journalism and film.” 

BMG CEO Hartwig Masuch added: “Few artists can claim to have had such a dramatic and long-lasting impact on popular music culture as Roger Waters. We’re immensely proud that an artist with his longevity, track record and creative achievement has chosen BMG.” 

Waters said, “October last year I put on a gig called ‘Music Heals’ with some wounded veterans in Washington DC, BMG supported us. I’m very glad to be back in the same team.”

Since emerging from London’s psychedelic scene in the mid-60s, Pink Floyd have sold 250 million worldwide. Of this, 75 million were in the United States. Last year, Roger Waters’ fortune was estimated at US$230 million. 

In Australia, two Floyd albums are in the list of best selling albums of all time. Dark Side Of The Moon is 13^th biggest, certified 14 x platinum and estimated to have now sold over 1 million. The Wall was certified 11x Platinum.

The publishing rights to songs from other Floyd members David Gilmour, Nick Mason and Richard Wright are owned by Pink Floyd Music Publishers, which is administered worldwide by Imagem.

Since BMG’s relaunch in 2008, it has signed up to represent Mick Jagger & Keith Richards (post-1983) and acquired the catalogues of publishers including Chrysalis, Bug, Virgin, Mute, Sanctuary, Primary Wave and Talpa Music. Less than eight years later, it ranks #4 in the music rights market.