WARNER ITALY ACQUIRES DWA, EXTRAVAGANZA CATALOGS

Warner Music Italy and Warner Chappell Music Italy are dusting off their dancin’ shoes to acquire the catalog of leading Italo disco label DWA Records and its publishing arm, Extravaganza.

Founded in 1989 by producers Roberto Zanetti and Francesco Bontempi, the company has amassed more than 250 masters, including a number written and recorded by its founders under such names as Savage, Robyx and Lee Marrow.

Pico Cibelli, president, Warner Music Italy, and Santiago Menéndez-Pidal, president, Southern Europe, WCM, said in a joint statement, “Italo disco is the lifeblood of the Italian music scene and DWA has been at the heart of the scene for more than three decades. We’re so pleased that Roberto and Francesco have placed their faith in us as the custodians of their catalog.”

Simon Robson, president, EMEA (Europe Middle East Africa), Recorded Music, WMG, added, “Our people around the world are already collaborating on exciting plans to promote this fantastic repertoire in new and innovative ways.”

In the words of Kevin Gore, president, Global Catalog, Recorded Music, “We’re proud to be managing DWA’s catalog and will leverage our teams around the world to create new connections for the artists and their music to be discovered and continue to be loved.”

Guy Moot and Carianne Marshall, co-chairs of WCM, concluded in unison, “We’ve made a significant investment for an amazing catalog. Our global team is now committed to leveraging opportunities to take this incredible songbook to new heights and helping ensure that a new generation of fans worldwide get to connect to this life-affirming music.”

Pictured (l-r): Renato Tanchis, Raffaele Razzini, Cibelli, Zanetti, Bontempi, Menendez-Pidal, Luca Gentili and Filippo Pardini