SYDNEY, Australia — BMG snaps up Jet’s music publishing interests, in a pact that keeps the ARIA Hall of Fame-inducted band’s rights under the same roof.
Announced Wednesday, May 13, the independent music company has completed a transaction that covers the publishing interests of three of the four original Jet members, including Nic Cester (vocals/guitar), Cam Muncey (vocals/guitar) and Mark Wilson (bass guitar). Founding drummer Chris Cester isn’t currently with the band.
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The arrangement expands on BMG’s long-term publishing relationship with the rockers, and follows the 2023 purchase of their recordings catalog, described at the time as a “landmark deal.”
Financial terms were not disclosed.
“We’ve loved working with BMG,” says frontman and co-founder Nic Cester, “and we’re excited to extend that partnership to the publishing side, so these songs can keep finding new audiences in the years ahead.”
Formed in the late 1990s, Jet’s career took flight in the early 2000s, part of a wave of border-crossing bands from Down Under that included The Vines and Avalanches.
Since then, the group has released three studio albums, all of which cracked the top 40 on the Billboard 200: Get Born (peaking at No. 26 in 2003), Shine On (No. 16 in 2006) and Shaka Rock (No. 27 in 2009). The first of those, Get Born, is certified nine-times platinum in Australia, won six ARIA Awards, and is recognized as one of the top five best-selling Australian rock albums of them all.
Included in the pact are such Billboard Hot 100 hits as “Look What You’ve Done” (peaking at No. 37), “Cold Hard Bitch” (No. 55) and Jet’s signature song “Are You Gonna Be My Girl,” which peaked at No. 29 on U.S. singles chart and was synced to the iconic 2004 Apple iPod campaign.
Career record sales top 6.5 million records worldwide, according to a statement from BMG.
“There are few Australian bands with songs as internationally recognizable as Jet,” comments Heath Johns, president, Australia, New Zealand and Southeast Asia, BMG, who negotiated the deal. “Jet was the Australian export story of the early 2000s, carrying the torch for a new generation of rock ’n’ roll storytellers. Jet’s enduring success is illustrated on stage at festivals and headline shows around the world, on radio, across streaming, and through a global sync track record of the rarest order. BMG is honored that Jet has placed their faith in us to help ensure these songs continue to find new audiences for many years to come.”
Jet was inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame in 2023 and continues to tour internationally.