Abe Olman Publisher Award

Nicholas Firth

Nicholas Firth is Chairman of BMG Music Publishing Worldwide, a unit of BMG, the global music and entertainment division of Bertelsmann AG. Since its 1987 launch under Mr. Firth’s direction, BMG Music Publishing has become an industry leader. The company has made over 200 catalogue and corporate acquisitions in 15 countries, most notably Zomba Music Publishing, Italy’s G. Ricordi, France’s Éditions Durand and Éditions Salabert as well as the catalogues of Santana, Fleetwood Mac, B.B. King, Bryan Ferry, Barry Manilow, Peter Cetera (Chicago) and Gilbert Becaud. The company’s roster includes some of the world’s biggest recording artists such as Nelly, Christina Aguilera, Robbie Williams, Coldplay, Alanis Morissette, the Bee Gees, Peter Maffay, Rammstein, Elvis Costello, Beck, Erykah Badu, The Cure, The Eurythmics, Annie Lennox and Wu-Tang Clan. BMG Music Publishing’s successful Film and TV Music division has placed BMG’s copyrights in recent films such as 8 Mile, Spiderman, Sweet Home Alabama, The Scorpion King and Shrek and hit television programs including Malcolm In The Middle, The Sopranos and ER. A 40-year veteran of the music publishing business, Mr. Firth has broad international operating experience in the USA, Europe and the Far East.