Mindshare ends Sony Music's 13-year relationship with MG OMD

The appointment ends Sony Music Entertainment's 13-year relationship with Omnicom Group's MG OMD.

Sony Music Entertainment called the review in March and after initial conversations with a number of agencies it shortlisted WPP-owned Mindshare alongside sister agency MEC, MG OMD and Havas' Arena Media.

Arena Media is understood to have dropped out of the competition earlier this month.

Sony Music Entertainment owns the Columbia, Roc Nation and Simon Cowell's Syco record labels. Its artists include Bob Dylan, Simon & Garfunkel, Michael Jackson, Oasis, Adele and Coldplay.

The pitch process was led by Sony Music Entertainment's media and planning director Charles Wood.

Following the merger of Sony Music Entertainment and the German Bertelsmann Music Group, the combined business, then called Sony BMG Entertainment, appointed MG OMD to its consolidated account in April 2005.

MG OMD had previously worked on the Sony Music business, while the BMG account was held by Vizeum.

The music industry has been under pressure over the last 15 years following the expansion of digital music sharing and although global digital revenues rose by 8% last year overall sales declined by 3% (source: IFPI).

MG OMD and MEC declined to comment. Mindshare was unavailable for comment.

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This article was first published on campaignlive.co.uk