Music Business News: Germany

Vanessa Kanapin named Director of A&R for GSA at Ultra Music Publishing and Helix Records

Exec joins from independent publisher Budde Music

Germany’s recorded music business generated $2.17bn in 2022, up 6.1% YoY

Audio streaming accounted for 73.3% share of revenues

After partnering with Warner last year, pre-cleared music for games platform STYNGR inks licensing deal with ICE Services

STYNGR offers pre-cleared music for games and the metaverse

George Harrison’s solo recordings move to Dark Horse Records/BMG, bringing his publishing and recorded music under one roof

While Dark Horse Records/BMG administers the music publishing of George Harrison, it will now also serve as his label home

Hartwig Masuch to step down as BMG CEO, succeeded by Thomas Coesfeld

Coesfeld joined BMG as CFO in April 2021

Ex-Lollapalooza Berlin booker Stefan Lehmkuhl joins BMG’s live music push in Germany

Lehmkuhl has curated and produced music events such as Melt Festival, splash!, and Lollapalooza Berlin

Now Believe muscles in on majors in Germany

Believe says it was the third largest company in the German music streaming market based on local repertoire in 2022, behind Universal Music Group and Sony Music

Moonage Daydream, BMG and Live Nation’s David Bowie documentary, has grossed more than $12m this year at the box office

Critically acclaimed movie was released in September