BMG Makes Its ‘Single Largest Catalog Acquisition Investment’

BMG is going all-in on country music.

The music company has swooped for Jason Aldean’s recorded music catalog, in what BMG confirms is its “single largest catalog acquisition investment.”

Announced overnight from Los Angeles, the deal includes interests in the American country superstar’s recorded catalogs and publishing rights of a music collection that spreads across 23 artists and songwriters, with the entire acquisition encompassing 1,000-plus songs.

All told, the arrangement covers nine studio albums from Aldean’s platinum-certified self-titled debut in 2005 through the Billboard 200 chart leader 9, from 2019.

The acquisition brings his entire discography under the BMG roof, following its 2017 acquisition of BBR Music Group, whose imprint Broken Bow Records released Aldean’s albums Macon, Georgia in 2021 and Highway Desperado in 2023.

Financial terms of the latest pact weren’t disclosed.

“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,” comments Thomas Coesfeld, BMG CEO.

“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.”

Aldean has a Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 with the controversial 2023 number “Try That In A Small Town,” which spent a single week at the summit. On the Billboard 200 albums survey, he has lassoed four leaders: Rearview Town (one week in 2018), They Don’t Know (one week in 2016), Old Boots, New Dirt (one week in 2014) and Night Train (one week in 2012).

Aldean will bring his Full Throttle tour to Australia and New Zealand starting in February and March 2026, for a run produced by Live Nation.

Those shows will mark his first time headlining NZ and his first time back to Australia since 2016, when he headlined the first sold-out CMC Rocks QLD Country Music.

BMG is banking on catalog in a big way. Recently, the business reported that its total investment in music rights since the launch of parent-company Bertelsmann’s Boost program in 2021 has eclipsed $1.5 billion.

“BBR Music Group and BMG have always shown a real commitment to my music and a belief in me as an artist,” Aldean comments in a statement. “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.”

BMG made its entry into Australasia in 2016 through the acquisition of Alberts, appointing former Universal Music Publishing executive Heath Johns to the top job, as managing director. In 2023, John was promoted to president of BMG Australia, New Zealand and South-East Asia.

The company began with about 150 master recordings held back from the sale of Bertelsmann’s share of the Sony BMG merger to Sony. Today, BMG claims to be the fourth-largest music company in the world, behind the majors Universal Music, Warner Music and Sony Music.