BMG Buys World Circuit, Buena Vista Social Club Label

BMG has acquired independent world music label, World Circuit, home to Buena Vista Social Club, Ali Farka Touré and Orchestra Baobab. The label's Nick Gold will join BMG to develop new projects.

Grammy winning Buena Vista Social Club has the most successful world music album of all time with sales in the multi-millions. The UK-based record company specializes in music from Cuba and West Africa.

The catalog also includes Ali Farka Touré and Ry Cooder’s Grammy winning Talking Timbuktu (1994), the international debuts by Orchestra Baobab and Oumou Sangare and solo albums from BVSC members including Ibrahim Ferrer, Ruben Gonzalez and Omara Portuondo. World Circuit recently signed and developed Malian musician Fatoumata Diawara and Congolese band Mbongwana Star.

Plans are already well underway for a number of new releases and reissues.

BMG EVP Global Catalogue Recordings Peter Stack said, “World Circuit has been a pioneer in recording and marketing outstanding artists and collaborations from around the world. We are absolutely delighted to welcome World Circuit to BMG and excited to be working with Nick Gold, one of the most inspirational figures in world music. We look forward to continuing and developing the work of this amazing label.”

Nick Gold said, “BMG’s respect for Artists and Writers, their vision of the future and the opportunities that lay ahead make it a natural and exciting home for World Circuit. Having been lucky enough to have worked with such amazing musicians and being a part of such timeless recordings, I’m now looking forward to the next chapter in the World Circuit story”.