Sony Music Germany has acquired Munich-based label F.A.M.E. Recordings, building on a 15-year relationship between the two companies.
The acquisition, announced on January 14, includes debut albums from bands Schandmaul and Pam Pam Ida, along with recordings by Feuerschwanz, Werner Schmidbauer, Hannes Ringlstetter, Die Happy, Thomas Godoj, Willy Astor and Coppelius.
F.A.M.E. Recordings was founded in Munich in 2001 by drummer Curt Cress and Tom Büscher. Sony Music served as the label’s exclusive distributor for 15 years before acquiring the business.
Sony Music will manage and market the repertoire through its catalog team in Berlin, according to a press release.
The deal ends F.A.M.E.’s active operations and new releases, said Sony Music Germany. Following the transaction, Antje Zelnitschek and Matej Bellus will continue providing expertise to Sony Music on a freelance basis.
“With the acquisition of F.A.M.E., we are securing a catalog that contains real highlights of German music history. Our goal is to revitalize these recordings with re-editions and special releases that will delight fans.”
Thorsten Sack, Sony Music Germany
Sony Music Germany’s Vice President of Catalog, Thorsten Sack, said: “With the acquisition of F.A.M.E., we are securing a catalog that contains real highlights of German music history. Our goal is to revitalize these recordings with re-editions and special releases that will delight fans.”
The acquisition expands Sony Music’s presence in German regional music, particularly in Munich, Bavaria, and southern Germany.
Across the wider Sony Music Group, the deal marks the group’s latest acquisition after Sony Music Publishing bought Nashville-based independent publishing and artist development company Big Yellow Dog Music (BYD), founded in 1998 by Kerry O’Neil and Carla Wallace. The BYD catalog includes Meghan Trainor’s All About That Bass, Dear Future Husband, No and Like I’m Gonna Lose You, plus Maren Morris’ The Bones, My Church, 80’s Mercedes and I Could Use A Love Song.
In late October, Sony Music Publishing announced that it acquired “a significant stake” in Elements Music, a Finland-based independent music publisher with a catalog of about 10,000 compositions.
The F.A.M.E. acquisition marks Sony Music Germany’s latest strategic move after launching a record label dedicated to electronic music, called noted. records in 2024. That label is headquartered in Berlin.
In 2021, Sony Music Germany acquired a stake in children’s entertainment brand Tiger Media International and invested in hip hop label Ragucci & Boldt, as well as booking agency Ibrahim & Boldt.
In 2023, Sony Music Germany announced a shake-up of its frontline label business in the market through what it called “a genre and team resource consolidation”.
As part of the move, the team at the company’s local hip-hop label Gold League were merged with the team at RCA Records Germany.
As part of this announcement, the legendary Hansa Records was also relaunched as a frontline label in the market to “further strengthen the mainstream pop segment” at Sony Music Germany.Music Business Worldwide
