Bertelsmann combines BMG with Concord in $1.16 billion cash-and-stock deal
Updated
Updated · The Wall Street Journal · Apr 28
Bertelsmann combines BMG with Concord in $1.16 billion cash-and-stock deal
9 articles · Updated · The Wall Street Journal · Apr 28
Concord shareholders receive $1.16 billion and retain a 33% stake, while Bertelsmann holds 67%. The new company will be headquartered in Nashville, with European headquarters in Berlin.
The merged entity, operating as BMG, is projected to generate $2.2 billion in revenue and $730 million EBITDA in 2026. The deal is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2026.
BMG CEO Thomas Coesfeld will chair the company, with Concord CEO Bob Valentine as chief executive. The move strengthens Bertelsmann’s U.S. presence, following recent acquisitions of Sky Deutschland and Penguin Random House.
Will BMG's $7B Concord deal champion independence or just create another major label in disguise?
Can a Nashville-based headquarters successfully merge the corporate cultures of BMG and Concord?
What regulatory hurdles in the US and Europe could potentially derail this massive music merger?
As music giants merge, are independent artists facing an industry controlled by a powerful few?
How will this new $2B music powerhouse navigate the complex world of AI copyright battles?
With its combined catalog, can the new entity force better terms from Spotify and TikTok?