BMG acquires publishing and recording catalog of UK new wave band A Flock of Seagulls

BMG has acquired the publishing catalog and sound recordings of Liverpool new wave band A Flock of Seagulls.

The company described the group as “one of the defining bands of the early 1980s new wave movement in the UK.”

The deal covers the ownership of US publishing rights and a participation in publishing income of the band’s catalog globally, according to a press release on Thursday (March 12).

On the recorded music side, BMG will now own the band’s core studio albums – A Flock of Seagulls (1982), Listen (1983), The Story of a Young Heart (1984), and Dream Come True (1986).

Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. The band and its members were represented in the transaction by Peter Csathy of Deep Cuts Media.

A Flock of Seagulls, formed in Liverpool in 1979, made their global breakthrough in 1982, driven largely by their hit I Ran (So Far Away), and other tracks like Space Age Love Song and Wishing (If I Had a Photograph of You).

The band achieved major certifications across their four studio albums, said BMG. On Spotify, the band has over 3 million monthly listeners.

Dan Baxter, SVP, Global Catalog Recordings, BMG, said: “A Flock of Seagulls pushed New Wave into widescreen territory, pairing cinematic synths with a bold visual identity that redefined what pop could look and sound like.

“Their expansive, immersive records helped define the MTV era and left a clear imprint on generations of alternative and electronic artists. These recordings still resonate across generations, and we’re proud to bring their ambition and atmosphere to new audiences worldwide.”

“A Flock of Seagulls pushed New Wave into widescreen territory, pairing cinematic synths with a bold visual identity that redefined what pop could look and sound like.”

Dan Baxter, BMG

Mike Score, lead vocalist of A Flock of Seagulls, said: “We chose to partner with BMG because we believe in its vision to elevate and extend our music to new audiences and generations. We are gratified by their passion and commitment to our music and legacy.”

For BMG, the acquisition marks its latest after buying the recorded music catalog of Country music superstar Jason Aldean, plus a tranche of other rights in a deal worth around USD $250 million.

At the time, the company said 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 23 artists and songwriters.

In December, BMG acquired the recordings catalog of 90s German rock band Liquido for an undisclosed amount.

BMG, founded in 2008, now represents more than 3 million songs and recordings, with a roster that includes The Rolling Stones, Tina Turner, George Harrison, Blondie, and more. The company operates 18 offices across 13 markets and is wholly owned by Bertelsmann, the German media conglomerate whose holdings also include RTL Group and Penguin Random House.

Elsewhere at BMG, the company was reported in late January to be in talks to acquire Concord. Concord previously explored a sale in 2022, turning down offers of around $5 billion.

BMG is a division of German media giant Bertelsmann.

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