MUMBAI: International music company BMG has fully acquired the US-based metal and hard rock label Rise Records. The record label will continue to operate from its headquarters in Portland, Oregon under the leadership of president, Craig Ericson, who also founded the label in 1991.

The partnership will build on BMG’s existing strength in the hard rock and metal genre. It currently owns historic recording catalogues with legends like Black Sabbath, Iron Maiden, Motorhead, Megadeth, Uriah Heep and Helloween, in addition to contemporary recordings from You Me At Six, Within Temptation and Bring Me The Horizon.

Speaking about the partnership, BMG Chrysalis US, president creative and marketing Laurent Hubert said, “Rise Records is more than a record label. It is a cultural phenomenon which has harnessed digital media to create a genuine community. We are delighted to partner with Craig and his team to give Rise’s artists access to BMG’s world-class admin services and international network.”

Meanwhile, Ericson said, “I’m thrilled to work with BMG and I know Rise Records and its bands will benefit greatly from this new partnership.”

Home to bands like Of Mice & Men, Memphis May Fire, Crown The Empire and The Devil Wears Prada, BMG will offer Rise artists access to its international network, and will also oversee back office functions.

BMG CEO Hartwig Masuch said, “BMG continues to invest in the future of the music business. We believe music offers tremendous potential – provided you recognise the rules of the game have changed. An innovative company like Rise Records is an ideal match for BMG.”

With a YouTube video channel boasting more than 1.4 million subscribers, Rise Records has become the centre of a growing underground community of hard rock enthusiasts. A statement released by BMG claimed that sales of hard rock recordings in the US grew by 8 per cent in the fourth quarter to 2014, at a time when the overall market declined by 3.5 per cent.

This is only one of BMG’s recent acquisitions of contemporary record labels. Last year, it acquired two popular alternative rock labels –Infectious (UK) and Vagrant (US).