Bertelsmann launches BMG Rights Management and focuses on marketing music rights.

In August 2008, Sony Corporation takes over Bertelsmann’s 50-percent stake in Sony BMG Music Entertainment. With the founding of BMG Rights Management in October 2008, Bertelsmann now focuses solely on the marketing and exploitation of music publishing and recording rights. It signs a number of famous German acts, including 2Raumwohnung, Peter Fox, Nena and Sasha. Shortly afterwards, international artists and songwriters like A-ha, Jim Beanz and Toby Gad are won. In July 2009, Bertelsmann and Kohlberg Kravis Roberts (KKR) establish a joint venture to succeed in the world's most important music market, the U.S., as well and thereby become one of the leading international music rights marketers worldwide. The artist roster now includes such great names in music as Robbie Williams, the Black Eyed Peas, Bruno Mars and the Scorpions. The rights catalog also includes works by Depeche Mode, the Rolling Stones and Elvis Presley. Since 2013, following the acquisition of KKR’s shares, BMG Rights Management has been wholly owned by Bertelsmann again