It's official everybody, SonyBMG is no more. Sony Corp chief Howard Stringer told his staff yesterday that, having bought German media firm Bertelsmann out of the joint venture record company, SonyBMG would become Sony Music Entertainment as of January. So, new business cards all round then. Former BMG boss Rolf Schmidt-Holtz will stay on as Sony Music boss though, so the legacy of the former BMG record company lives on even if its name doesn't.
Stringer's memo added: "As we approach the end of this calendar year I want to take this opportunity to thank you for the very effective and united effort you have all put into making SonyBMG Music Entertainment a full operating, business and creative partner within Sony Corporation". Don't mention it Howard. I'm not sure I did anything, but thanks for the thanks anyway.