When Bertelsmann and Sony Corporation created their joint venture Sony BMG in 2004, I predicted it would be consolidated by Sony within years. Not only was the Sony Music part of the music conglomerate the best one, there was also the fact that Bertelsmann had a lot going on, then and now.

Bertelsmann’s share is worth a lousy $1.2 billion — which would make the new Sony Music worth about $2.4 billion in total. Seems a bit low for the second-largest music conglomerate (after Universal Music Group), but I guess Sony wouldn’t have done it for anything more. They’re not in the best of positions right now to be spending large amounts of money.

New Sony Music logo

The new holding company of labels like Columbia, RCA, Arista, Epic and Jive, will be called Sony Music Entertainment, which is an obvious name, but also one that makes the whole thing a bit confusing. There already exists a Sony Music Entertainment, the original one (originating from CBS Records) and the one that makes up half of Sony BMG. So is that one going to merge with BMG Music Entertainment (Bertelsmann’s half), or is that one going to be renamed and Sony BMG Music Entertainment Inc. is going to be renamed Sony Music Entertainment? I don’t know why I even care, but somehow I do! Oh, the madness! How is it going to happen, Howard? How?! I need to know!

Sorry, went a little berserk there. On a related note, I wonder what the new logo of Sony Music will be. Thank god the boring, totally stupid logo of Sony BMG will disappear now (it’s a plain, coloured G-clef), but what will replace it? I hope it’s going to be the Walking Eye logo of Columbia Records. Whenever I see it, I think of Sony Music. Don’t know why.

Edit [3.14.09]: Sony premiered the new logo at their 2009 CES Keynote. I have incorporated the new logo into the article, sorry that it took this long. I had this photo sitting on my desktop ever since the keynote.

It’s definitely different from all their previous logos, with some feisty colouring and an air of creativity over it all. Not quite sure what to think of it just yet, but at least it’s not boring. Also, will have to see the logo in action, and as of now, I haven’t seen it anywhere out in the wild yet.

On a last and still related note, will there be a reorganization? I always thought the whole label structure of Sony BMG was one big mess, especially with all the one-or-two-artist labels, so perhaps they could reorganize that now. A little touch of simplicity will not only be efficient, but could also save the company a lot of money. Considering the music industry is in need of some cash, perhaps some simplicity will be a good option to consider. The less bureaucracy in a company, the more easier it becomes to make money. Sony, get on that will you?