Masuch says BMG wants EMI Records

KOMM GIB MIR DEINE HAND: Music Week reported today that a surprise new buyer has emerged as a leading candidate to acquire EMI’s recorded music catalog—it’s none other than BMG, which wants to reenter the record biz, while having reservations about picking up EMI Music Publishing, according to CEO Hartwig Masuch. “Integrating EMI’s publishing would be tough, but if you look at the recorded side, it is a different story,” Masuch told interviewer Paul Gorman. "We are increasingly moving into representing master catalogs, and EMI is the iconic catalog. We are more confident these days; it is no secret we are more interested in rights to masters than publishing.” No secret?! This is the first anyone has heard about BMG’s redirected acquisitiveness. Until Masuch showed his hand, it was expected that BMG Rights Management, the German company’s partnership with KKR, would go after EMP in the event of a Citigroup sell-off, while Warner Music would be the most eager suitor for the record company and its immense, classic-filled master catalog. (12/20a)