Photo Credit: Marius Masalar
Wise Music Group acquires a controlling interest in classical publisher Edition Peters Group, one of the world’s oldest and most prominent music publishing organizations.
Wise Music Group has announced the acquisition of a controlling interest in Edition Peters Group, one of the world’s oldest and most prolific music publishing houses. The acquisition goes through the Hinrichsen Foundation, and they will own Edition Peters Group in partnership with Christian Hinrichsen, whose family association with the company dates back to 1863.
In the 19th century, Edition Peters was unmatched by its association with classical greats like Bach, Beethoven, Brahms, Mendelssohn, Schumann, and Grieg. In the 20th century, its catalog included Gustav Mahler, Hugo Wolf, Richard Strauss, Morton Feldman, George Crumb, and John Cage.
Today, Edition Peters Group has offices in London and New York, as well as Leipzig, where it was founded in 1800. Its rich and diverse catalog includes Mark Andre, Sally Beamish, Daníel Bjarnason, Gloria Coates, James Dillon, Jonathan Dove, Sebastian Fagerlund, Brian Ferneyhough, Bernd Franke, Ash Fure, Bernhard Gander, Emily Howard, Clara Iannotta, George Lewis, Elena Mendoza, Shawn Okpebholo, Roxanna Panufnik, Roger Reynolds, Rebecca Saunders, Tyshawn Sorey, Erkki-Sven Tüür, and Errollyn Wallen.
“This acquisition emphasizes Wise Music Group’s commitment to the classical genre and reinforces the group’s long record of investment worldwide,” says Chris Butler, Wise Music Group’s Director of Global Rights Development and new chairman of Edition Peters Group.
“The iconic Peters brand is recognized universally by students, composers, and professionals, and its roster of composers over the past 200 years is remarkable. We look forward to building on that unique heritage and legacy.”
Edition Peters Group will retain its individual identity within Wise Music Group, alongside publishing houses like Chester Music, G. Schirmer, Associated Music Publishers, Novello & Co., Éditions Alphonse Leduc, Première Music, Le Chant du Monde, Edition Wilhelm Hansen, Unión Musical Ediciones, and Bosworth Music GmbH.
“We are delighted to have reached (an) agreement with Wise Music Group and with Christian Hinrichsen. We believe Edition Peters will be at home alongside many iconic names from music publishing history, working closely with a team that is passionate about the classical music,” adds Tim Berg, Hirichsen Foundation Chairman. “For the Foundation, this creates an opportunity confidently to support contemporary music performance within the UK, particularly at this time of significant change.”
“This is the natural union of two companies with proven track records in the specialist area of contemporary classical music publishing,” concludes Christian Hinrichsen. “I look forward to Edition Peters Group having new opportunities to develop its unique catalog as a member of Wise Music Group’s international family of music publishers.”