Music Business News: Germany

News

Will Europe’s top court give record companies a powerful new tool to fight online copyright infringement?

The CJEU has been asked to decide if web services companies can be held liable for piracy on websites they service

News

Confirmed: Thomas Coesfeld will continue to lead BMG in dual role alongside Chairman and CEO position at parent Bertelsmann

Coesfeld to succeed Thomas Rabe as head of Bertelsmann on January 1, 2027

News

Thomas Coesfeld to become CEO and Chairman of BMG’s parent, Bertelsmann

Coesfeld will continue to lead BMG after he's promoted in 2027

News

GEMA wins landmark ruling against OpenAI over ChatGPT’s use of song lyrics

Court in Germany finds that ChatGPT violates copyright laws through its unauthorized use of song lyrics

News

Kobalt and indie music company umn team up to acquire catalog of superstar songwriters Peter Plate and Ulf Leo Sommer, in what they claim to be ‘Germany’s largest music rights acquisition yet’

Berlin-based entertainment company umn (pronounced ˈhjuːmən) was founded in 2024 by ex-BMG senior execs, Dominique Casimir, Maximilian Kolb and Justus Haerder

News

Rehan Manickam appointed Director of A&R in the US for Bamboo Artists

Los Angeles-based hire to drive artist development and cross-territory strategy for Germany-born company

Analysis News

What indie distribution bosses really think about UMG’s proposed acquisition of Downtown and FUGA

MBW polls opinion from an array of founders leading some of the world's top independent distribution and music delivery platforms

News

Warner Music merges Benelux-GSA businesses; Niels Walboomers named President, as Central Europe bosses Doreen Schimk & Fabian Drebes exit

Company combines recorded music businesses in the Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg, with those in Germany, Switzerland, and Austria under the Warner Music Central Europe banner