Wise Music Group

Last updated

Wise Music Group
Company typePrivate
IndustryMusic publishing
Headquarters Berners Street, London, United Kingdom
Area served
Worldwide
Key people
  • Robert Wise (Chairman & Managing Director)
  • Chris Butler (Head of Publishing & Rights)
Website www.wisemusic.com

Wise Music Group is a global music publisher, with headquarters in Berners Street, London. In February 2020, Wise Music Group changed its name from The Music Sales Group. [1] [2]

Contents

In 2014 Wise Music Group (as The Music Sales Group) acquired French classical music publisher Éditions Alphonse Leduc. [3] Éditions Alphonse Leduc publishes classical music by French composers including Jacques Ibert, Henri Dutilleux, Olivier Messiaen, Francis Poulenc, and Joseph Canteloube. It also publishes operatic works by Italian composers Gioachino Rossini and Vincenzo Bellini, and works by Muzio Clémenti, Johannes Brahms, and Pyotr Tchaikovsky.

In March 2017, The Music Sales Group acquired disco publisher Bleu Blanc Rouge from Belgian record producer and songwriter Jean Kluger. [4] In April 2018, Music Sales sold its physical and online print divisions, including Musicroom, to Milwaukee-based publisher Hal Leonard for $50 million. Hal Leonard will continue to distribute Wise Music's publishing catalogue worldwide. [5]

In April 2023, Wise Music Group acquired a controlling interest in Edition Peters Group, a publishing house founded in Leipzig in 1800. [6] Shortly after, Faber Music announced an agreement between Wise Music Group and them for the printed music business, making Faber Music the worldwide representative of the entire sales catalogue of Edition Peters. [7]

Wise Music's catalogue of music includes classic hit singles such as "Tainted Love" by Soft Cell, "My Sharona" by The Knack, and "The Twist" by Chubby Checker, among others. [8]

Novello & Co

Advertisement for Novello, Ewer & Co. circulating music library, London, 1890 1890 ad Novello Ewer Co music library London.png
Advertisement for Novello, Ewer & Co. circulating music library, London, 1890

Novello & Co is a London-based printed music publishing company specializing in classical music, particularly choral repertoire. It was founded in 1811 by Vincent Novello. [9] August Jaeger of the firm was a friend of Edward Elgar. It joined the Wise Music Group in 1993.

Chester Music

Chester Music is a British publisher of printed music specializing in classical composition and educational music of the 20th and 21st centuries. [10]

MusicFirst

MusicFirst is the Digital Education Division of Wise Music Group, specializing in educational music software. In 2025 Wise Music Group sold its digital education division to Achieve Partners. [11] [12]

Schirmer Theatrical

Schirmer Theatrical is Wise Music Group's concert and theatrical production company, specializing in film with live orchestra and high-end non-classical symphonic concerts.

Selected imprints

  • Schuberth & Co., Inc.
  • Larrabee Publications
  • Lewis Music Publishing Co.
  • Heritage Publications, Inc.
  • Kammen Music Co.
  • Associated Music Publishers
  • J. Curwen & Sons Limited London
  • Boston Music Company, founded in 1885 by Gustav Schirmer, Jr. (1864–1907)
  • Schirmer Trade Books

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References

  1. "Music Sales changes name to Wise Music Group, signs Ólafur Arnalds and Evan Dando of The Lemonheads". Musicbusinessworldwide.com. 30 January 2020. Retrieved 3 September 2020.
  2. "The Music Sales Group is now Wise Music Group". Wisemusic.com.
  3. "Music Sales acquires classical French publisher". prsformusic.com. Retrieved 31 October 2021.
  4. "Music Sales acquires French publisher Bleu Blanc Rouge". Music Business Worldwide. 29 March 2017. Retrieved 8 November 2017.
  5. "Music Sales is now a pureplay publisher with $50m+ in the bank, after selling books and retail business". Music Business Worldwide. 4 April 2018. Retrieved 1 November 2021.
  6. "Wise Music Group acquires controlling interest in Edition Peters Group". Wisemusic.com. 3 April 2023.
  7. "Wise Music Group and Faber Music agree comprehensive global deal for the Edition Peters printed music business". Fabermusic.com. 2 June 2023.
  8. "Music Sales acquires US publishing rights to Chubby Checker's The Twist". Musicbusinessworldwide.com. 28 June 2016. Retrieved 3 September 2020.
  9. "Novello". wisemusicclassical.com. Retrieved 1 November 2021.
  10. "Chestermusic". wisemusicclassical.com. Retrieved 1 November 2021.
  11. "Wise Music Group sells Digital Education division to Private Equity firm Achieve Partners". Music Business Worldwide. 9 January 2025. Retrieved 9 January 2025.
  12. Partners, Achieve. "Achieve Partners Acquires Digital Education Division of Wise Music Group". www.prnewswire.com. Retrieved 9 January 2025.