Bertelsmann AG has acquired digital media agency Smashing Ideas, Inc. for its Random House division. While the match between an established book publisher and a digital marketer seems curious at first glance, Random House and Smashing Ideas have been partners since last fall. Plus, the deal reflects the changes in…

Bertelsmann, who all but exited out of music business when it sold its portion in Sony (NYSE: SNE) BMG back to Sony last year, is back in it: it is ramping up its new-ish music rights/publishing venture BMG Rights Management in a deal with PE firm Kohlberg Kravis Roberts &…

The second-largest record company in the world is now all Sony’s. As announced in August, Bertelsmann’s 50 percent stake in *Sony* BMG has been acquired by Sony Corp (NYSE: SNE). The former joint venture is now being renamed Sony Music Entertainment – a wholly owned subsidiary of Sony Corp. of…

As expected, Sony Corp (NYSE: SNE). and Bertelsmann AG have reached an agreement that has Sony buying Bertelsmann’s 50 percent stake in Sony BMG for $1.2 billion. The music company will be called Sony Music Entertainment Inc. and will become a wholly owned subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America. Sony…

In the permutations being worked out for the sale of BMG part of music label SonyBMG, Bertelsmann is looking to retain a stake in the European part of the business, reports FT, citing sources. The company is looking to sell the 50 percent stake to Japanese company Sony (NYSE: SNE),…

German media group Bertelsmann has announced full-year 2007 revenues of $29.6 billion, a 2.8 percent decrease from $30.4 billion in the previous year. Due to various charges this year, including the Napster (NSDQ: NAPS) settlement ($386.6 million), as well as gains in the previous year, net income fell sharply to…