In a delayed reaction to the Sony-BMG merger, RCA Label Group Nashville and Sony Music Nashville have moved their separate operations under a single label now called Sony BMG Nashville.
Former chairman of RLG Nashville Joe Galante, will head up the new group as chairman.
The only clue that the merger may be coming was the Sony staff moved into the RLG building last year close to the Row.
Reuters reports that:
"To be sure, this is not the first time Sony BMG has integrated recorded music units as part of the merger. The company has pursued similar initiatives in catalog, classical and Latin. But Sony BMG's reluctance to combine its country efforts - a move whose delay surprised many observers - illustrates the lingering integration pains the joint venture continues to experience.
"Sony and BMG have a large presence in Nashville. RLG comprises the RCA, BNA and Arista Nashville labels. Its heavyweight acts include Kenny Chesney, Alan Jackson, Brooks & Dunn, Martina McBride, Brad Paisley, Carrie Underwood and Sara Evans. Sony Music Nashville comprised the Columbia and Epic labels, with key acts including Wilson, Montgomery Gentry, Van Zant and Miranda Lambert."
Across the whole industry country music sales fell last year by 3% to 75.3 million units according to Nielsen SoundScan. This year has had a good start as sales are up by 23% at 21.6 million units.
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