BMG has acquired the recordings catalog of multi-platinum rock band Jet in Australia, in what the music company says is a “landmark deal.”
Under the agreement, BMG has acquired the recorded music rights for Australia and New Zealand to Jet’s initial two albums, Get Born and Shine On.
In the rest of the world, these albums will continue to be owned by Warner Music Group. (Jet previously owned and licensed the recorded rights to the two albums in ANZ; those rights then reverted ahead of the BMG deal.)
In addition, BMG has acquired the artist’s royalty stream around the world for the two albums in perpetuity, as well as the global recorded rights to the band’s third album Shaka Rock.
The deal builds on Jet’s existing worldwide publishing deal with BMG, established in 2017, encompassing rights to hits including Are You Gonna Be My Girl, Look What You’ve Done, Cold Hard Bitch, Rollover DJ, Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is, She’s A Genius, Seventeen, and Get What You Need.
Formed in the late 90s, Jet went on to release three studio albums, amassing over 6.5 million records sold worldwide.
Their breakout debut, Get Born (2003), achieved 9x Platinum certification in Australia, ranking among the top five highest-selling Australian rock albums of all time.
The album also attained Platinum status in the UK and US, clinching the No.1 spots on both the US Modern Rock and Mainstream Rock charts. Singles Are You Gonna Be My Girl and Rollover DJ secured the No.1 and No.19 positions respectively in the 2003 triple j Hottest 100.
Are You Gonna Be My Girl has over 538 million streams on Spotify alone and over 150 million views on YouTube:
BMG says Jet’s songs are perennial global licensing favorites.
Are You Gonna Be My Girl was used in the iconic TV ad for the Apple iPod and the band’s music has featured in multiple international advertising campaigns, feature films, TV series and video game franchises over the last 15 years.
The band received three nominations at the 2004 MTV Music Awards (winning Best Rock Video) and garnered four APRA Award nominations (winning Songwriters of the Year and Most Performed Australian Work Overseas).
Jet received six awards from seven nominations at the 2004 ARIA Awards, including Album of the Year, Best Group, and Single of the Year.
Their subsequent release, Shine On (2006), achieved Platinum certification in Australia. Jet’s third album, Shaka Rock (2009), and the breakthrough single Seventeen both attained Gold status in Australia. Seventeen also received APRA Awards for Rock Work of the Year and Most Played Australian Work.
Commenting on the acquisition, Jet’s Chris Cester said: “With big decisions like this it comes down to personal relationships. We’ve known the BMG team for years.
“We’re already with BMG for our publishing and they do what they say they’re gonna do. That’s a rare thing in this business. Sooner or later you figure out that’s the only thing that matters, if you’re serious about what you do.”
“With big decisions like this it comes down to personal relationships. We’ve known the BMG team for years. We’re already with BMG for our publishing and they do what they say they’re gonna do.”
Chris Cester, Jet
Heath Johns, who was promoted to BMG President, Australia, New Zealand and South-East Asia, in April, said: “Jet are a generation-defining band who achieved global success of the rarest kind.
“BMG couldn’t be more honored to acquire these iconic global hit recordings and we thank Nic, Chris, Cam, Mark and their manager Andy Cassell for the faith they have shown in our team via this landmark deal.
“BMG has become the fastest-growing music company in Australia via our organic recordings and publishing growth and now, as we expand our scope via acquisition, I can think of no bigger statement than the acquisition of the JET catalogue.”
Jet now joins BMG’s label roster, which features a lineup of Australian and New Zealand talent including Chet Faker, Angus & Julia Stone, Daniel Johns, Dope Lemon, Hockey Dad, Julia Stone, The Living End, Pacific Avenue, Ladyhawke, CHAII, Dune Rats, and Winston Surfshirt.
BMG also manages or holds rights to the works of legendary artists such as Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, George Harrison, Ringo Starr, Kurt Cobain, Johnny Cash, Buddy Holly, Iggy Pop, Blondie, David Bowie, The Kinks, Black Sabbath, Iron Maiden, Motörhead, and more.
“Jet are a generation-defining band who achieved global success of the rarest kind.”
Heath Johns, BMG
BMG’s most recent purchases include the acquisition of the writer’s share of royalties of Michael Münzing of the Eurodance chart-topper SNAP! in August, and the purchase of Paul Simon’s artist royalty income stream and the neighboring rights income stream from Simon & Garfunkel recordings in June.
The same month, BMG bought the recordings catalog of iconic British rock group The Hollies.
Earlier this month, BMG signed a new global recording and publishing partnership with artist and actress Jennifer Lopez. Over a month ago, the company agreed to represent the entire publishing catalog of Grammy Award-winning UK electronic music duo The Chemical Brothers.
BMG’s strategy has allowed it to report an 11.5% year-over-year jump in revenue in the first half of the year to EUR €414 million (approx. USD $435 million).
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