The company has acquired the recorded music catalog of Country music superstar JasonAldean.
The acquisition is part of a broader deal that sees the company acquire interests in the recorded catalogs and publishing rights of a music collection from what it calls a “cross-section” of 23artists and songwriters. BMG said on Thursday (September 18) that the entire acquisition encompasses over 1,000 songs across multiple genres.
BMG said that the overall deal represents its “single largest catalog acquisition investment” to date, and brings the company’s total investment in music rights since the launch of parent company Bertelsmann’s Boost program in 2021 to more than $1.5 billion.
The deal is worth around USD $250 million, according to MBW’s sources.
The acquisition of Aldean’s recorded catalog and neighboring rights brings his entire music career under BMG again, since the company first acquired BBR Music Group in 2017.
The deal spans nine studio albums from his Platinum-certified self-titled debut in 2005 through the chart-topping 9 in 2019, with BMG’s BBR Music Group imprint Broken Bow Records continuing to release his following albums Macon, Georgia in 2021-2022 and Highway Desperado in 2023.
MBW’s sources also tell us that the deal includes some master recordings from US punk rock band Dropkick Murphys, and that Spirit Music Group is the seller.
Jason Aldean’s recorded music catalog was previously acquired by Spirit Music Group in February 2022 in a deal we reported at the time to be worth more than $100 million.
We noted at the time that the Spirit acquisition included 90% of Aldean’s recorded music catalog and encompassed nine albums in total. That acquisition by Spirit in 2022 also included neighbouring rights and SoundExchange royalties. MBW reported at the time that Aldean was retaining the remaining 10% ownership in the catalog.
All of those nine albums had historically been released via Broken Bow Records, which BMG acquired in 2017 for $103 million.
BMG/Broken Bow confirmed in 2022 that it would continue to be the exclusive licensed label partner for Aldean’s records until at least 2030.
“This landmark deal sets a new level of catalog acquisitions at BMG, while underscoring our commitment to the music and the discipline of our approach,” said BMG CEO Thomas Coesfeld on Thursday.
“This landmark deal sets a new level of catalog acquisitions at BMG, while underscoring our commitment to the music and the discipline of our approach.”
Thomas Coesfeld
Added Coesfeld: “By bringing together the iconic catalog of Jason Aldean, we are strengthening our footprint in Country music while expanding across genres and deepening our investment in the US – the world’s largest music market.
“This move highlights our ability to maximize the value of music rights and represents a powerful step in BMG’s strategy to be the most effective, artist-first music company in the world.”
“BBR Music Group and BMG have always shown a real commitment to my music and a belief in me as an artist.”
Jason Aldean
Aldean said: “BBR Music Group and BMG have always shown a real commitment to my music and a belief in me as an artist.
“Knowing all of my music is in the hands of my long-time label team makes this a full-circle moment, and I’m proud to have my songs continue their journey with them through this next chapter.”
“For millions, those albums mark key moments in their lives, which makes bringing them back to the place where they were born all the more meaningful.”
Jon Loba
Jon Loba, President, Frontline Recordings, The Americas, said: “Jason Aldean’s debut album was not only a massive commercial success, it helped define the sound of Country Music for years to come.
“While his signature style has remained a common thread across every release, Jason has consistently pushed the envelope both sonically and lyrically. His unwavering commitment to evolution has ensured that each new album delivers something fresh for fans, while continuing to shape the direction of the genre itself.
“For millions, those albums mark key moments in their lives, which makes bringing them back to the place where they were born all the more meaningful.”
BMG revealed in its H1 results that it had completed 17 catalog acquisitions during the first six months of 2025, which it said were carried out in line with Bertelsmann’s “Bertelsmann Boost” strategy.
Bertlesmann said at the time that those 17 deals brought BMG’s total investment in music rights catalogs since 2021 to around EUR €1.2 billion.
Today’s update pushes that number up to USD $1.5 billion. The average EUR-USD exchange rate for H1 2025, per the European Central Bank, would put that previously published Euro figure of €1.2 billion at approximately USD $1.3 billion.
That implies (obviously with a fair amount of possible variance) that this deal would have been around $200 million, which roughly correlates with what we’re hearing from our sources.
BMG CEO Thomas Coesfeld discussed the company’s M&A strategy in an interview with MBW following the company’s results last month.
He said: “Fueled by Bertelsmann’s Boost program, our investment strategy continues to be a bright spot, with 17 acquisitions in the first half of 2025, bringing total investments in music rights catalogs since 2021 to EUR €1.2 billion and consistently delivering strong returns.”
Coesfeld also outlined the main criteria for catalogs or companies that BMG is looking to buy in the 2025 marketplace: “When evaluating catalogs or companies, our main criteria include the quality and lasting relevance of the repertoire, the strength and track record of the artists and songwriters, and the potential to create incremental value,” he said.
“We continue to take a disciplined, value-driven approach to acquisitions.”
Elsewhere at BMG, Monti Olson was recently appointed by BMG to oversee the company’s music publishing operations as Executive Vice President, Publishing, North America.
The exec will lead BMG’s publishing A&R and creative administration teams, and according to the company, will also “drive new signings and catalog acquisitions”.Music Business Worldwide
