Bertelsmann’s music rights company, BMG, gobbled up another significant catalogue, Talpa Music, for an estimated $50 million.
Talpa houses works by a host of hot DJs including Tiesto, Afrojack and David Guetta. The music publishing asset holds rights to 500,000 songs and lays claim to licensing works by 20 percent of the world’s top 50 DJs.
Netherlands-based Talpa was founded by Dutch music producer Tony Berk and former Endemol boss John de Mol. The firm also represents the music publishing of “The Voice” contestants.
Talpa was represented by New York investment bank Berenson & Co. in the sale.
Late last year, BMG Rights invested $150 million in music publishing rights owned by Primary Wave.
The two also created a joint venture to promote and seek out deals with independent artists.