Ten years have gone by since BMG chose MMG as its sub publisher in Israel. BMG Music Publishing was 8 years old at the time and MMG was the new comer to the Israeli market place begining with BMG's Killer Track Production Music Library.

During the past 10 years BMG's writers have enjoyed a massive presence in the Israeli market place. Many titles were plugged for use in national TV commercials and films. Four awards for the "Song of the Year" were presented to BMG's writers. With a policy of aggressive marketing BMG's income from Israel has risen many fold and is growing stronger as each year goes by.

Nicholas Firth was born into music publishing. His grandfather and great uncle, Louis and Max Dreyfus, owners of Chappell & Company pumped music publishing to his veins from childhood. During his 40 years in the business he spent over 20 years with the Chappell Group, then a division of PolyGram BV, culminating with simultaneous positions as President of Chappell International and Vice President of the PolyGram Publishing Division, which he held from 1981-1985.

18 years later and still never a dull moment – the merger of Sony BMG has positioned Bertelsmann's BMG Music Publishing as the world's biggest independent publisher.

What is the effect of the Sony – BMG record company merger on BMG Music Publishing?

NF: To be honest, none. We have always operated independently.

Do you consider BMG an independent publishing company?

NF: Absolutely. Not only do I consider it, but we are!

What benefits would BMG writers have from the fact that BMG Music Publishing is no longer tight with a major record company?

NF: The fact that we are not in the same corporate group doesn't mean we are not very close to the record company and in fact we work very well with Sony BMG and all other record companies.

Are there any down sides to this move?

NF: No

Do publishers' communicate their concern to cell phone manufactures regarding new products that enable piracy of copyrighted music?

NF: Our position on piracy (that we are against it and take all legal steps possible to protect our works) is well known now to all users including cell phone manufacturers.

Where does BMG stand on file sharing?

NF: We share the same position as all sensible music publishers -- that we are against non-paying peer-to- peer file sharing. We would be very much in favor of legal file sharing which would increase our revenues and those of our writers.

How can we convince users to pay for something they get for free?

NF: As has been done successfully in the US Supreme Court, we must litigate and defend our rights.

Where would you like to see BMG Music Publishing ten years from now?

NF: In ten years, we certainly hope to be the second largest music publisher in the world ( today we are # 3)

About BMG

BMG Music Publishing represents some of the most internationally successful talent in all genres of music, including Nelly, Maroon5, R. Kelly, Justin Timberlake, Linkin Park, Christina Aguilera, Coldplay, Britney Spears, Robbie Williams, Keane, Joss Stone, Alanis Morissette, The Bee Gees, Eurythmics, Korn, Limp Bizkit and Chingy. BMG Music Publishing’s successful Film and TV Music division has placed BMG’s copyrights in recent films such as The Dukes of Hazzard, Wedding Crashers, The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, Monster-In-Law, Robots, Coach Carter, Shark Tale, Collateral, Starsky & Hutch and hit television programs including The OC, CSI and ER. BMG Music Publishing’s rich classical repertoire includes works by Puccini, Verdi, Ravel (“Bolero”), Saint-Saens, Debussy, Poulenc and Xenakis.

Since its launch in 1987 BMG Music Publishing has become an industry leader with a uniquely diversified global catalogue created through artist development and over 240 catalogue and corporate acquisitions in 15 countries, most notably Zomba Music Publishing, Italy’s G. Ricordi and France’s Editions Durand and Salabert. With wholly owned offices in 31 countries around the globe, BMG Music Publishing is the world’s largest Classical Music Publisher, the number one Contemporary Christian Music Publisher and the leading Production Music Library group.