Major label sale is finalised

Harmonia Mundi will be under new ownership from Thursday.

Press release:

London, September 29th 2015 – [PIAS] one of the  world’s leading independent music companies has announced the acquisition of harmonia mundi the respected classical, jazz and world music specialists.

This acquisition comprises the music assets of harmonia mundi but does not include its book publishing interests or retail operations. With over 100 staff and offices in key territories harmonia mundi, which comprises record labels, music publishing and distribution divisions was founded in 1958 by the charismatic and visionary Bernard Coutaz (1922-2010), who guided the group to its position as a globally successful music company. Eva Coutaz, who has been involved in classical music production since the 1970’s, will remain a consultant to the harmonia mundi board.

This acquisition will be effective from October 1st 2015 and will see [PIAS] add harmonia mundi’s catalogue, infrastructure and expertise to its already successful portfolio of music interests. Founded in Belgium by Kenny Gates and Michel Lambot, [PIAS] is celebrating 33 years as one of the world’s leading independent music companies in 2015. The company has 3 core divisions: [PIAS] Recordings, that signs and develops artists, [PIAS] Cooperative, an associated label group that partners with labels to help fund and develop their repertoire on an international basis, and [PIAS] Artist & Label Services, a sales, distribution and marketing team that takes repertoire to market, physically and digitally, on an global basis.