EMI Music and Warner Music Group will extend their existing marketing and distribution partnership in India and the Middle East and enter into their first partnership in Turkey.
Under the new multi-year agreement, EMI Music will continue to act as the physical distributor of WMG’s repertoire in India and the Middle East and will become WMG’s local digital distributor as well. EMI has been WMG’s physical distributor in that region since 2005.
EMI will also become WMG’s new physical and digital distributor in Turkey, where WMG previously licensed to a local physical distributor.
Adrian Cheesley, EMI Music’s president – international, said in a statement: “These markets have exciting growth potential, especially in digital. We are delighted to be extending our successful relationship with Warner Music to include digital rights to their fantastic artist roster and catalog and to cover Turkey as well.”
Financial terms were not disclosed.
Following an agreement in September, WMG markets and distributes, physically and digitally, EMI’s repertoire in Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Korea and Thailand.
“With us currently serving as EMI’s distributor in South East Asia, and with EMI serving as our distributor in India, the Middle East and Turkey, we have developed a strong partnership that we’re pleased to be expanding with this deal,” added John Reid, vice chairman, Warner Music International. “Since WMG does not have local operations in these territories, it was extremely important that we partner with one of the strongest players in the region, which is why I’m confident that EMI’s efforts, local resources and expertise will be of great benefit to our artists.”
The territories covered under the new agreement are India, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Lebanon, Bahrain, Qatar, Oman, Jordan, Syria, Yemen, Kuwait and Egypt. The deal also includes an extension of EMI’s physical distribution deal with WMG for Libya, Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia and adds certain digital rights.
EMI is already the exclusive local distributor of many independent labels, including Domino, Beggars Banquet, Ministry of Sound and Cooking Vinyl, in one or more of these countries. It also distributes Disney’s soundtrack and Hollywood repertoire in the Middle East and Turkey.
Both EMI and WMG will continue to develop and operate global digital partnerships in those territories where their repertoire is marketed and distributed by the other major.
