August 28, 2007

By By Wolfgang Spahr, Hamburg

Sony BMG Germany is entering into the artist management and live entertainment business.

The music major has bought majority stakes in M?nster-based management firm MTS and comedy booking agency Bucardo, whose business accounts for combined sales of more than 600,000 tickets.

Sony BMG acquired its stake in MTS from its owner and managing director T?ne Stallmeye. The major bought its share in Bucardo from owner and managing director J?rgen Hoffmann. Financial details of the respective deals were not disclosed.

Edgar Berger, CEO Sony BMG Germany, says the company's strategy is to exploit ancillary rights for its artists, which include booking, management, merchandising, as well as cooperation with brand developers and the advertising sector.

MTS and Bucardo have such German comedians Mario Barth, Atze Schr?der and Gaby K?ster on their books.

"Comedy is a fixed integral part of pop culture and together with Sony BMG we can develop our business even further," says Stallmeyer. "We are planning a mega-event for the coming year. We want to fill a soccer stadium and advance to totally new dimensions."

Comments Joe Hugger, VP digital and audio-visual division, Sony BMG Germany, "With this step we are laying an important basis for the development of the live entertainment business at Sony BMG. Our objective is to create optimal synergy effects for the development and marketing of our artists, something we will achieve with the involvement in MTS/Bucardo."

Hugger founded Sony BMG comedy label "Spassgesellschaft!," and has collaborated with MTS and Bucardo on various projects.

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