Netflix re-ups with BMG for global publishing administration

 

By Emmanuel Legrand

Netflix has signed a new long-term exclusive agreement with BMG for the management and administration of the video streaming service’s music publishing rights worldwide, outside the US. The two companies' initial deal was sealed in 2017.

  Terms of the agreement were not disclosed. According to the new deal, BMG will continue be the worldwide exclusive music partner for Netflix-created movies and TV shows such as 'The Queen’s Gambit', 'The Crow'n, 'Extraction', 'Stranger Things', and 'Emily In Paris'. 

  The agreement between BMG and Netflix covers score, transition cues, themes, and feature songs for all content owned by Netflix for its Netflix Originals, such as TV series, feature films, documentary features, and other original content.

An outstanding partner

  “BMG has been an outstanding partner to us – both a trusted third party and an innovator in the administration of music rights," said Netflix Vice President, Music Legal, Dominic Houston. "This deal will allow us to continue to provide exceptional production support to our creators, while bringing the very best music to our members around the world.”

  BMG said the agreement comes "after a competitive pitch against the world’s largest music companies." The competitive pitch focused on processes and technology, with BMG "highlighting its ability to marshal a global rights and royalties team working together to ensure efficient registration, fast-track international royalty payments, identify new approaches to income tracking, and deliver access to BMG’s technology platform with APIs for data & insights sharing."

A successful collaboration

   “When the most technologically savvy entertainment company in the world chooses your platform to manage its precious music rights, that’s an endorsement. We are delighted to extend our successful collaboration with Netflix,” said BMG CEO Hartwig Masuch.

  Netflix joins BMG clients such as ITV and Fremantle Media as well as Amblin Partners, the content creation company led by Steven Spielberg, Participant Media, US television networks AMC Network and Turner Broadcasting (TBS) among the film and TV companies represented by BMG.