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Lenny Kravitz. American pianist and jazz singer Nina Simone performs October 18, 1964 in an unidentifed location. (Photo by Getty Images) Hartwig Masuch, CEO of BMG, acknowledged the decades-long history of Black artists getting unfair contracts and invited other labels to launch similar audits to rectify potential discrepancies. “Since before the dawn of rock ‘n’ roll, virtually all pop and rock music has its roots in black music,” Masuch stated. “Yet music’s history books are littered with tales of discriminatory treatment of black musicians.” Ben Katovsky, COO of BMG Rights ...

BMG's new state of-the-art complex in Nashville. "It is time for the music industry to address its past," says BMG CEO Hartwig Masuch, pledging action. BMG has issued the results of a study examining the historic royalty payments and rates of 33 labels and imprints acquired between 2008-2019, as part of the company's initiative to ensure its artists are treated fairly and that Black artists are paid royalties on par with their label mates. BMG's review found four of its acquisitions paid Black artists below the level of non-Black acts on those respective labels. BMG said the 33 labels in ques...

BBC News By Mark Savage image copyrightGetty Images image captionBMG owns the rights to recordings by Nina Simone and John Lee Hooker - although there is presently no suggestion they were forced into unfair contracts The record label and publisher BMG has uncovered evidence that some black artists were paid less than their white counterparts. The company launched a review of its catalogue in June, vowing to address "inequities or anomalies" in 30 days. The inquiry took significantly longer, but presented its findings on Friday. It said four of the 33 labels BMG had acquired since forming in 2...