BMG acquires U.S. pop label S-Curve
BMG has long since become established as one of the most successful market players in music rights. Now Bertelsmann’s music company is stepping on the gas in the traditional recorded-music business as well: Yesterday, it announced its takeover of the recording and publishing assets of the well-known U.S. pop label S-Curve.
New York-based S-Curve is the third U.S. label to be acquired by BMG, following Los Angeles-based Vagrant Records and Portland, Oregon’s Rise Records. As part of the deal, S-Curve Founder and President, renowned pop executive Steve Greenberg and his general manager Milo Pacheco will join BMG with a brief to develop the company’s mainstream pop offering.
Unlike publishing rights, the recorded music business covers the full package of services including the production, release and promotion of a new album. In the past year and a half, word has gotten around that recordings are in the best of hand at BMG as well. Since the company announced its entry into the important U.S. recorded music business in spring 2014, BMG has scored a major success in the U.S. with the two simultaneous Top 10 Billboard 200 entries for Iron Maiden and Scarface’s new albums. And BMG star Janet Jackson’s new album “Unbreakable,” which BMG released in partnership with Jackson’s own label Rhythm Nation, reached Number One in the U.S. album chart.
Among the artists on S-Curve’s roster is multi-platinum pop artist Andy Grammer, who has released two albums on the label. His last album, “Magazines or Novels,” was a Top 20 hit in the US with the single ‘Honey I’m Good’ ranking among the top 10 best-selling singles of 2015.
