BMG Announces L.A. Expansion
• BMG announced it has concluded a deal to begin development of a new full-service music facility in Los Angeles, home to its biggest-grossing operation worldwide. The location will be a state-of-the-art, two-floor, 30,000-square-foot space at 5670 Wilshire Blvd., just seven blocks east from its current facility at 6100 Wilshire Blvd. BMG currently employs around 135 staff in Los Angeles with plans for further expansion in the new year.
The news comes just two months after BMG officially launched its new Nashville facility, bringing together BMG’s Nashville recordings business BBR Music Group, its publishing business, and its copyright and royalty operations all under one roof, operating off the same platform at 1 Music Circle South; and less than 18 months following the opening of its new office location in New York at 1 Park Avenue. The proposed new space will consolidate the west coast publishing and recording teams, together with synch and licensing, film and books, and BMG Production Music. The new facility will also allow the company finally to fully integrate renowned rock label Rise Records it acquired in 2015 into the West Coast recorded music team.
BMG CEO Hartwig Masuch (left) said, “Los Angeles is our largest-grossing operation in our largest market and this marks another significant investment in our fast-growing US business. It is consistent with BMG’s philosophy — all our services under one roof, operating off the same platform, and taking a global perspective.”
BMG L.A. successes during 2019 include 21 Savage, Juice WRLD, Tool, The Raconteurs, Lewis Capaldi and Blanco Brown in publishing, and in frontline recordings by Avril Lavigne, Godsmack, Sammy Hagar & The Circle, The Glorious Sons, Lindsey Stirling, Zac Brown Band and 311.
BMG EVP Repertoire & Marketing LA Thomas Scherer said, “It’s just 10 months since the reorganization of BMG US and I’m glad to say we are enjoying success across the board. The move into a new, even bigger, facility is a significant development for BMG in L.A. As with all our initiatives, everything is being designed to optimize service to our songwriter and artist clients.”
