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BMG will part ways with Roger Waters, the co-founder of Pink Floyd whose incendiary comments about Israel, Ukraine and the United States have caused more than a few controversies. Variety has learned. The Germany-based company signed a publishing deal with the musician in 2016 and was scheduled to release a newly recorded version of Pink Floyd’s landmark 1973 album “Dark Side of the Moon” last year, which eventually came out on via UK-based Cooking Vinyl.
The Germany-based company was scheduled to release a newly recorded version of Pink Floyd’s landmark 1973 album “Dark Side of the Moon” last year, but new CEO Thomas Coesfeld rejected the deal after taking over his new post on July 1, 2023. It finally came out via UK-based Cooking Vinyl.
Now, sources say Variety that BMG is preparing to completely part ways with the veteran musician.
A BMG spokesperson declined requests for comment.
While Waters’ work with Pink Floyd is arguably one of the most important and lucrative catalogs of the rock era, his controversial political statements in recent years have arguably veered from anti-Zionism to anti-Semitism, and last year he spoke before the United Nations Security Council. at Russia’s invitation, stating that its 2022 invasion of Ukraine “was not unprovoked.” Waters has been widely criticized for his comments, but has remained defiant, voicing them frequently on his recent tours as he disputes any accusations of anti-Semitism. These statements have angered his former bandmates, as they have alienated several suitors interested in acquiring the band’s catalog of recorded music, which was said to be on the market for $500 million.
Waters himself spoke of being “fired” by BMG in a video interview with Glenn Greenwald last November, although the news was buried about 24 minutes after the conversation and followed a long and familiar diatribe in which the musician characterized his break with the company as a result of pressure from pro-Israel interests towards the parent company of BMG, Bertelsmann; Waters has often spoken of conspiracies against him by making his beliefs public, particularly in a Rolling Stone Interview 2022. A company source said he disagrees with Waters’ version of events and that Coesfeld, who is a member of the family that controls Bertelsmann, would likely have discussed the matter with them and made the decision on his own. Bertelsmann issued a declaration expressing “solidarity with Israel” shortly after Hamas’ attack on the country on October 7.
While it is common for record companies to “remove” artists from their record contracts, it is much less common for major publishing deals. In recent years, the actions or statements of both R. Kelly and Kanye West put them at odds with their labels and publishers, despite multi-platinum sales; Kelly, who is serving a decades-long prison sentence for multiple crimes involving sexual misconduct, has seen a judge award his royalties with Sony Music and Universal Music Publishing to his victims, while West’s deals with the recorded music division from Universal and Sony Music Publishing. they were allowed to expire without renewal.
The move is the latest in a series of cultural changes at Berlin-based BMG’s music division by new CEO Thomas Coesfeld, who took the helm from founding CEO Hartwig Masuch last July. While most of those moves have been internal and structural, they appear to signal a change of direction for the Bertelsmann-owned company, which has become the world’s fourth-largest music company since its launch in 2008, primarily in still-mature markets. . trusted artists, from Lenny Kravitz and Motley Crue to Ringo Starr and 5 Seconds of Summer.
While the company has become a global powerhouse thanks to those recorded music artists and its formidable music publishing operation, under Coesfeld the company appears to be pointing in a more contemporary direction, with a greater focus on the U.S. While Kylie Minogue is a long-established artist in the third decade of her career, her latest album “Tension” is nominated for a Grammy this weekend and spawned a global hit single in “Padam Padam,” her biggest hit in over 20 years. The company has also seen significant success with its Nashville division, through hits through its partnership with BBR Music Group, including Jason Aldean (who has his own issues with political statements), Dustin Lynch, Blanco Brown and Parmalee ; He will also release a new Jennifer Lopez album on February 16.
Earlier this week, BMG Nashville president Jon Loba was promoted to president of the company’s entire North American frontline recording division, and Thomas Scherer, previously head of publishing and recording in Los Angeles and New York , was named head of the global recorded catalog, while retaining North American responsibilities for publishing in North America.
Representatives for BMG and Waters did not immediately respond to VarietyRequests for comments.