News
Hal Leonard and Music Sales join forces
Rob Hughes Jun 24 2009, 1:36pm
Comments (2)
New joint venture will not affect the UK
MMR Magazine has reported an announcement from Hal Leonard chairman and CEO Keith Mardak (pictured), and Robert Wise, chairman and managing director of the Music Sales Group, of the formation of Music Sales America (MSA). This new joint venture between the two companies has been created to expand the availability of Music Sales publications in North America.
With creative input from both publishers, MSA will produce publications which Hal Leonard will exclusively distribute throughout North America. As part of the long-term deal, Hal Leonard will also gain exclusive distribution rights to the entire catalogue of Music Sales Corporation, and the publishers it represents. Barrie Edwards will remain the president of the US-based Music Sales Corporation.
Music Sales Corporation publishes songbooks and sheet music for many of the most respected artists in popular music, including AC/DC, Tori Amos, Bob Dylan, Pink Floyd, Paul Simon, Cat Stevens and many others. They boast a backlist of more than 6,500 titles, and publish over 100 new US releases a year.
MSA will also distribute in North America publications from the classical imprints within the Music Sales Group, including Bosworth & Co., Chester Music, Novello & Company, J. Curwen & Sons, Edition Wilhelm Hansen, and Unión Musical Ediciones.
"This development represents the latest chapter in the long and successful history of Hal Leonard and Music Sales working together,” commented Robert Wise. “The formation of MSA will allow us to expand the volume, availability and distribution of Music Sales product in North America. Hal Leonard is not only our proven partner, but also the print publisher with the most extensive distribution network."
Keith Mardak added: "Music Sales is the largest print publisher in Europe, with a distinguished history and a vigorous output of new titles. We are thrilled with this new deal, which will help two thriving and distinctive publishers create new products and make the most efficient, cost-effective use of their respective resources."
Comments
“hl/ms”
Posted by: bill - Jun 24, 5:11pm
enjoy
“Re: hl/ms”
Posted by: 5thumbs - Jun 25, 11:07am
Music Sales is a very efficient supplier with a tremdous stockholding and a fantastic order fulfilment ratio that puts most other M.I. distributors to shame.
However, I worry a little about the dominance that Music Sales / Wise Publications are gradually gaining in the UK sheet music industry. A monopoly position certainly does not benefit music retailers since Music Sales are already in a position to turn on the thumbscrews, and have been doing so of late, chipping away at margins, albeit in very minor ways.
This may well be just a U.S. tie-up, but globally, the more of a dominant position they can command, the more the U.K. will be affected in the future, and we UK retailers may find our margins being gradually squeezed. (imo)