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Sony Music acquires Century Media Records
By Chris Cooke | Published on Tuesday 25 August 2015
Sony Music has acquired German metal label Century Media Records. Terms of the deal are not known, though sources have told Billboard it was worth something around $20 million.
As previously reported, the hard rock indie’s co-founder Robert Kampf revealed that he was planning on selling his company to a major back in March, telling Metal Sucks: “I think Century Media, or any indie label – which is going to lose a lot of its sales due to the changes in the industry – will have a much better chance to shine within an organisation like a major. Every music company in the future has this problem: whether it’s Spotify or Beats or whatever comes along, those changes will be difficult”.
At the time he noted that his company had good contacts at all three major labels, though Sony or Universal seemed more likely as possible buyers, because Century already used the label services divisions of both companies, Sony’s RED in the Americas and Universal’s Caroline in Europe and elsewhere. Back in March, Kampf mused that a deal with Universal would probably result in the least change at his company, though seemingly Sony did a better job at wooing him into a deal.
Kamp will continue to head up a Century group within Sony Music, with RED continuing as distributor in America, and Sony units taking over distribution elsewhere in the world too. The deal seemingly covers all of Century’s recorded music assets, but not its publishing catalogues.
Commenting on the deal, RED Distribution President Bob Morelli noted: “Century is one of the best hard rock labels in the business and Robert is an accomplished executive who understands the genre like few others. We are excited to continue working with Century to grow the business for their talented roster of artists”.
Kampf himself added: “The company I founded over 25 years ago is moving into its strongest chapter yet with the best music company in the world, Sony Music”. The deal would, he added, allow Century “to further grow…as a dominant force in rock, prog, alternative and metal”.
