BMG announced the launch of Modern Recordings, a label for new classical, jazz and electronic music, mostly instrumental but also extending to singer-songwriters.
The label—the first new imprint to be launched by BMG since its launch in 2008—will be led by Berlin-based music executive Christian Kellersmann, who will serve as Senior Vice President New Classics & Jazz.
Modern Recordings will capitalize on the growing international appetite, also driven by streaming, for new leftfield music arising out of the classical and jazz worlds.
The firsts artists signed to Modern Recordings include Scottish composer Craig Armstrong, producer Robot Koch, composer Meredi, and producer, composer and conceptual artist Hendrik Weber aka Pantha du Prince.
Its first release is German countertenor Andreas Scholl and pianist Tamar Halparin’s Twilight People, out this Friday, Nov. 15.
Said Christian Kellersmann, "The first releases show the breadth of ambition of Modern Recordings. We will give international musicians a home to realize extraordinary projects. Across borders. Across genres. Across boundaries. We see a great opportunity to offer such artists all the benefits of BMG’s global approach to records.”
Kellersmann reports to BMG EVP Global Repertoire & Marketing Fred Casimir. Before joining BMG in February 2019, Kellersmann made an impression on the music industry in his years in classical music and jazz at Universal Music in Germany. Key projects included the classical club format “Yellow Lounge,” which he launched and ran for 12 years as well as the “Recomposed” series in which British composer Max Richter reworked Antonio Vivaldi's The Four Seasons. His signings included platinum-selling Max Raabe, founder and leader of the Palast Orchester, and trumpeter Till Brönner. Kellersmann was also responsible for marketing campaigns for the likes of Anna Netrebko, Lang Lang, Melody Gardot, and Diana Krall.
Following his departure from Universal, he launched the label Neue Meister at Edel and reactivated the German jazz label MPS.
