Going for a song: Bertelsmann get control of Frank Ocean, Bruno Mars and more after BMG buyout

German media giant Bertelsmann is buying out its joint venture partner in music publishing company BMG, giving it full control of a catalogue boasting one million songs by artists including Bruno Mars, Duran Duran and Frank Ocean, pictured left.

Private equity group KKR will receive more than £500 million for its 51% stake in the business which manages a mix of songwriters’ copyright and artists’ performing rights. BMG was built through a string of deals and includes the former Chrysalis music publishing business.

Bertelsmann boss Thomas Rabe plans an acquisition spree to make his company more international, funded by selling shares in RTL, the broadcaster whose output in Britain includes dating show Take Me Out, Britain’s Got Talent and Celebrity Juice. He is also merging his book arm Random House with Penguin.