In a statement, the Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll expressed, “Like any artist, the protection of my life’s work, my musical inheritance, is something personal. I am confident that with BMG and Warner Music, my work is in professional and reliable hands.”
BMG CEO Hartwig Masuch has a close relationship with Turner’s husband, Erwin Bach, and the two executives have been reportedly discussing the deal for over a year. However, it wasn’t until Turner’s team expressed interest three months ago that things began to finalize. Though BMG will receive Turner’s royalties and assets, Warner Music will still serve as her record company.
Masuch tells Rolling Stone, “We all know how iconic Tina’s work is. When you look at the dimensions Tina’s career has entered even in the last few years between musicals and documentaries, there’s still so much untapped potential with her legacy.
“With Warner and Tina, we want to expand reach and influence new audiences. What’s the YouTube strategy, what do we do with TikTok? You have to be far beyond any approach where you’re just releasing a best-of album every four years or selling rights for a documentary.”
Earlier this year, the 81-year-old released her overarching documentary, TINA, which unveiled new details regarding both her personal and professional life. During that time, the “Proud Mary” singer revealed she would be stepping out of the public purview to enjoy a life of peace.
Later this month, Turner will be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame as a solo artist. This will be her second induction since her joint induction with Ike Turner in the ’90s.