BMG has acquired the music interests of Grammy and BRIT Award-nominated rock and blues singer-songwriter Chris Rea.
The deal includes his royalty interests in 17 studio albums including hit tracks such as Driving Home For Christmas, On The Beach, Road To Hell and Fool (If You think It’s Over).
The news comes as his hit Driving Home For Christmas lands in the Top 10 Spotify charts in the UK, Germany, Austria, and Norway.
BMG says that the song, originally released as a B-side in 1986, has since become “a seasonal perennial,” charting on the Official UK Singles Chart every year since 2007.
In the first chart week of 2022, it reached No.10 on the Official UK Singles Chart, its highest chart position yet since its release 34 years ago.
The acquisition builds on Rea’s existing relationship with BMG which released and published his 2017 album Road Songs For Lovers, his highest-charting album in nearly 20 years.
Middleborough, UK-born Rea released his debut studio album Whatever Happened to Benny Santini? in 1978, which included the breakout single Fool (If You think It’s Over), which reached No.12 on the Billboard Hot 100.
He built his career through the Eighties in the UK and Continental Europe, breaking through with his tenth album, 1989’s The Road To Hell, which reached No.1 in the UK and was certified six times platinum.
Its 1991 successor Auberge also reached No.1 on the Official UK Albums Chart and was a hit across Europe.
“Chris Rea’s integrity as a musician and his commitment to his art is legendary. BMG is proud to become custodian of his music interests.”
Alistair Norbury, BMG
Alistair Norbury, BMG President Repertoire & Marketing UK, said: “Chris Rea’s integrity as a musician and his commitment to his art is legendary. BMG is proud to become custodian of his music interests.
“Chris’s work is one of the foundation stones of British blues rock and sits happily among BMG’s peerless blues catalogue including the work of John Lee Hooker, Peter Green and Gary Moore.
At the end of last month, BMG acquired the royalty interests in the recordings of multi-Platinum Eurodance star Haddaway.
Other recent deals struck by BMG, include the acquisition of the recordings catalog of multi-Platinum German pop-rock band Fools Garden.
The music company also struck a deal to acquire Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter Harry Nilsson’s song rights earlier this month.Music Business Worldwide