Universal Music Group Acquires Harmonia Mundi Label

The co-founders of the label's parent company, [PIAS], first sold Universal a minority shareholding in 2021

The [PIAS] music company oversees several labels across several genres — including harmonia mundi, the French label specializing in high-quality recordings, often by historically informed performance practitioners.

Recently, the label's co-founders, Kenny Gates and Michel Lambot, announced that they have decided to sell the remainder of their shares in the company to Universal Music Group (UMG). Gates and Lambot initially sold a minority shareholding in the company to UMG in 2021.

[PIAS]'s other labels include Play It Again Sam, Demain, Spinefarm, and Source — as well as partner labels such ATO, Heavenly, Mute, and Transgressive.

Founded in 1958, harmonia mundi has an extensive catalogue that comprises music from the Middle Ages to the 21st century. Its artists include William Christie, Isabelle Faust, René Jacobs, Raphaël Pichon, Antoine Tamestit, Timothy Ridout, and Andreas Scholl.

Kenny Gates has signed a long-term contract to remain as the [PIAS] CEO. He will also sit on the main board and advisory group for Virgin Music.

"I am selling my shares, not my soul," Gates said. "Since agreeing a strategic alliance with UMG in 2021 we have found them to be supportive and engaged partners who have added real value to our offering. The decision by myself and Michel to relinquish our remaining shareholdings in the company is a pragmatic one that will allow us to offer a truly global distribution and services platform to the independent music community."

"Our existing leadership team will continue to steer our day-to-day work and nothing will change culturally or commercially for our existing clients and partners; we will still maintain the same values that we have lived by since our launch over 40 years ago."

"Our initial agreement with UMG in 2021 was always going to be a learning experience for both parties in terms of how we could align our individual cultures and whether that would work," added Michel Lambot.

"If I’m honest I did have some concerns as to whether it was even possible but I’m happy to say I was wrong – our two companies have lots in common including teams that share a real passion for music and our relationship to date has been fruitful, convivial and everything we hoped it would it be. This new phase, which will see us working even closer together promises to be an exciting new era for [PIAS], our staff, our partners and the artists we represent."