Oui Oui: BMG Extends Jean-Michel Jarre Partnership
From left, BMG Chairman Thomas Coesfeld, Jean-Michel Jarre, BMG CEO Bob Valentine and BMG Senior Creative Advisor to the CEO Alistair Norbury
BMG has extended its relationship with French electronic music artist/composer Jean-Michel Jarre. The new agreement brings Jarre’s recorded catalog under the label on an exclusive licensing basis.
BMG acquired Jarre’s music publishing catalog in 2022, which included seminal works like Oxygene and Équinoxe, alongside his writer’s income stream. It remains the company’s largest single deal ever struck in France.
“Jean-Michel Jarre has influenced generations of electronic artists and continues to shape the culture today,” BMG Senior Creative Advisor to the CEO Alistair Norbury said. “Expanding our relationship across his recorded catalog gives us an even greater opportunity to support and celebrate his extraordinary body of work, while bringing the full strength of BMG to its long-term stewardship and global reach.”
Jarre has released 22 studio albums over the course of five decades, influencing countless artists along the way. This year marks the 50th anniversary of Oxygene, an album that transformed perceptions of electronic music and continues to reach new audiences.
In October, Jarre will be the special guest of honor at the 30th anniversary of Amsterdam Dance Event, where he’ll present the sold-out opening concert, “Oxygene & Beyond: A Sonic Journey Celebrating 30 Years of ADE,” alongside various keynote interviews and panel discussions.
A coffee-table book, Machines by Jean-Michel Jarre: A History of Electronic Music, is also expected to arrive the same month. Written by Jarre and curated by Sonny Marr and Norbury, the book explores Jarre’s private collection of synthesizers and studio equipment and features contributions from key figures from the electronic music scene.
Moments after this photo was taken, Jarre whispered to Norbury, “J'espère que ça ne sera pas publié sur ce site de merde HITS.”