BMG and Concord Announce Agreement to Combine, Forming Global Independent Music Company
BERLIN & NASHVILLE, Tenn., April 29, 2026 (ENTERTAINMENT INTERVIEWS) — Music companies BMG and Concord have entered into a definitive agreement to combine their businesses, creating what the companies describe as the world’s leading independent music company.
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The combined company will operate under the BMG name and will integrate music publishing, recorded music, theatrical rights, and digital distribution operations. The transaction brings together two independent music companies with global operations and complementary portfolios.
Upon closing, Bob Valentine, currently Chief Executive Officer of Concord, will serve as Chief Executive Officer of the combined company. Thomas Coesfeld, Chief Executive Officer of BMG, will serve as Chairman. The global headquarters will be located in Nashville, with Berlin serving as the European headquarters. The publishing division will operate as BMG Publishing, while the recorded music division will be named Concord Records.
“We believe this is a truly one-of-a-kind opportunity to bring together two world-class teams and rosters at the right moment, as scale in rights ownership becomes increasingly critical to long-term growth. This transaction accelerates our successful BMG Next strategy by enabling a more ambitious and sustained approach to investing in artists and songwriters, as well as in rights, technology, AI tools, and the talent shaping the industry. As one unified business, we will further deepen our position as a preferred global partner to artists, songwriters, and platforms, combining scale with the agility and independence they value. We look forward to this next chapter and to the opportunities it creates for artists, songwriters, and partners,” said Thomas Coesfeld, Chief Executive Officer of BMG and designated Chairman of the combined company.
"We are excited to begin working together to build something truly exceptional. Both companies were founded to support great artistry and with a deep sense of responsibility to the performers, songwriters, and playwrights we serve. We share a philosophy grounded in artist development, strategic long-term management of IP, and operational discipline. Our greater scale will allow us to invest more in creative talent, global reach, accretive acquisition opportunities, and technology, while preserving the nimble, entrepreneurial spirit that artists and songwriters value most. This is not about replicating the major label model; it’s about using scale to strengthen independence. Together, we will build a company that gives artists more reach and more flexibility – all designed to support their distinct visions,” said Bob Valentine, Chief Executive Officer of Concord and designated CEO of the combined company.
The combined entity will be owned approximately 67% by Bertelsmann and approximately 33% by affiliates of Great Mountain Partners. Affiliates of Great Mountain Partners will receive a one-time cash payment of $1.16 billion. The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory approvals, and is expected to close in the second half of 2026. Financial terms beyond the ownership structure and payment were not disclosed.
Together, the companies represent a catalog spanning music publishing and recorded works from a range of artists and songwriters. Since 2021, BMG has invested more than $1.5 billion in music rights acquisitions under its Boost investments program, while Concord has invested more than $3 billion since 2020 across publishing, recorded music, theatrical rights, and distribution, according to the companies.
For more information, visit www.bmg.com and www.concord.com.
Source: BMG and Concord
