EMI and Warner extend partnerships

By Robert Ashton

EMI Music and Warner Music Group have announced a new agreement to extend their existing marketing and distribution partnership in India and the Middle East.

The two majors are also entering into their first distributor partnership in Turkey.

Under the new multi-year license agreement, EMI Music will continue to serve as the local physical distributor of WMG’s repertoire in India and the Middle East - a role it has had since 2005 - and will become WMG's local digital distributor as well.

In Turkey, where WMG previously licensed to a local physical distributor, EMI will become WMG’s new local physical and digital distributor. WMG will continue to develop and operate global digital partnerships, which will include these territories.

EMI Music’s president - international Adrian Cheesley says these markets have exciting growth potential, especially in digital.


Warner Music International vice chairman John Reid adds, “We have developed a strong partnership that we’re pleased to be expanding with this deal. 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.”

The territories covered under the new agreement are India, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Lebanon, Bahrain, Qatar, Oman, Jordan, Syria, Yemen, Kuwait and Egypt. The agreement also includes an extension of EMI's physical distribution deal with WMG for Libya, Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia and adds certain digital rights.

In one or more of these countries, EMI is already the exclusive local distributor of many independent labels including Domino, Beggars Banquet, Ministry of Sound and Cooking Vinyl. EMI also distributes Disney’s soundtrack and Hollywood repertoire in the Middle East and Turkey.

WMG markets and distributes - both physically and digitally - EMI’s repertoire in Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Korea and Thailand while EMI will continue to develop and operate global digital partnerships which will include these territories.