BMG has acquired the recordings catalog of multi-platinum and award-winning Australian rock band Jet.
The deal with BMG includes Australian and New Zealand rights to the band’s first two albums, Get Born and Shine On, and the global royalty stream for these iconic albums in perpetuity, as well as global rights to their third album Shaka Rock. This agreement is in addition to the band’s existing global publishing deal with BMG signed in 2017, including rights to international hits ‘Are You Gonna Be My Girl’, ‘Look What You’ve Done’, ‘Cold Hard Bitch’, ‘Rollover DJ’, ‘Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is’, ‘She’s A Genius’, ‘Seventeen’ and ‘Get What You Need’.
Chris Cester of Jet said, “With big decisions like this it comes down to personal relationships. We’ve known the BMG team for years. We’re already with BMG for our publishing and they do what they say they’re gonna do. That’s a rare thing in this business. Sooner or later you figure out that's the only thing that matters, if you’re serious about what you do.”.
BMG President, Australia, New Zealand and South-East Asia, Heath Johns said, “Jet are a generation-defining band who achieved global success of the rarest kind. BMG couldn’t be more honoured to acquire these iconic global hit recordings and we thank Nic, Chris, Cam, Mark and their manager Andy Cassell for the faith they have shown in our team via this landmark deal. BMG has become the fastest-growing music company in Australia via our organic recordings and publishing growth and now, as we expand our scope via acquisition, I can think of no bigger statement than the acquisition of the JET catalogue.”.
Forming in the late 90s, Jet went on to release three studio albums and sell more than 6.5 million records worldwide. Their breakthrough 2003 debut Get Born is certified 9x Platinum in Australia (one of the top five highest-selling Australian rock albums of all time) and Platinum in the UK and US, topping both the US Modern Rock and Mainstream Rock charts. Singles ‘Are You Gonna Be My Girl’ and ‘Rollover DJ’ were voted #1 and #19 in the 2003 triple j Hottest 100, the band received three nominations at the 2004 MTV Music Awards in the US (winning Best Rock Video) and four APRA Award nominations (winning Songwriters of the Year and Most Performed Australian Work Overseas). Jet collected six awards from seven nominations at the 2004 ARIA Awards, including Album of the Year, Best Group and Single of the Year.
2006’s follow-up Shine On was certified Platinum in Australia. The band’s third album Shaka Rock (2009) and breakout single ‘Seventeen’ both reached Gold status in Australia, with the latter taking home APRA Awards for Rock Work of the Year and Most Played Australian Work.
Jet’s songs are perennial global licensing favourites and following the use of ‘Are You Gonna Be My Girl’ in the iconic television advertisement for the Apple iPod, the band’s music has featured in multiple international advertising campaigns, feature films, television series and video game franchises over the last 15 years.
Jet are currently touring Australia to celebrate the 20th anniversary of their iconic debut album Get Born. It was also announced last week that the band would be inducted into ARIA’s Hall of Fame in November, being the first inductees since Archie Roach in 2020.
Jet joins a BMG label roster of Australian and New Zealand talent including Chet Faker, Angus & Julia Stone (ANZ), Daniel Johns, Dope Lemon, Hockey Dad, Julia Stone, The Living End, Pacific Avenue, Ladyhawke, CHAII, Dune Rats and Winston Surfshirt. BMG also represents or owns rights in the work of iconic artists including Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, George Harrison, Ringo Starr, Kurt Cobain, Johnny Cash, Buddy Holly, Iggy Pop, Blondie, David Bowie, The Kinks, Black Sabbath, Iron Maiden, Motörhead, and many more.
