Wise Music Group acquires controlling interest in Edition Peters Group

Wise Music Group is proud to announce the acquisition of a controlling interest in Edition Peters Group, one of the world’s oldest and most distinguished music publishing houses. Wise Music Group has made its acquisition from the Hinrichsen Foundation and will own Edition Peters Group in partnership with Christian Hinrichsen whose family association with the company began in 1863.

Today Edition Peters Group has offices in London and New York as well as Leipzig, the city where it was founded in 1800. Today it remains one of the most respected music publishing houses in the world.

In the 19th century Edition Peters was pre-eminent for its association with classical giants including Bach, Beethoven, Brahms, Mendelssohn, Schumann and Grieg. In the 20th century its catalogue spanned Gustav Mahler, Hugo Wolf, Richard Strauss, Morton Feldman, George Crumb, and John Cage.

Today the rich and diverse catalogue of contemporary composers includes Mark Andre, Sally Beamish, Daníel Bjarnason, Gloria Coates, James Dillon, Jonathan Dove, Sebastian Fagerlund, Brian Ferneyhough, Bernd Franke, Ash Fure, Bernhard Gander, Emily Howard, Clara Iannotta, George Lewis, Elena Mendoza, Shawn Okpebholo, Roxanna Panufnik, Roger Reynolds, Rebecca Saunders, Tyshawn Sorey, Erkki-Sven Tüür and Errollyn Wallen.  

Edition Peters Group will retain its individual identity within Wise Music Group, alongside Chester Music, G. Schirmer, Associated Music Publishers, Novello & Co, Éditions Alphonse Leduc, Première Music, Le Chant du Monde, Edition Wilhelm Hansen, Unión Musical Ediciones and Bosworth Music GmbH.

Chris Butler, Wise Music Group’s Director of Global Rights Development, and new chairman of Edition Peters Group says: “This acquisition emphasises Wise Music Group’s commitment to the classical genre and reinforces the group’s long record of investment worldwide. The iconic Peters brand is recognised universally by students, composers and professionals, and its roster of composers over the past 200 years is remarkable. We look forward to building on that unique heritage and legacy”. 

Hinrichsen Foundation Chairman Tim Berg says: “We are delighted to have reached agreement with Wise Music Group and with Christian Hinrichsen. We believe Edition Peters will be at home alongside many iconic names from music publishing history, working closely with a team that is passionate about the classical music. For the Foundation this creates an opportunity confidently to support contemporary music performance within the UK, particularly at this time of significant change”.

Christian Hinrichsen comments: “This is the natural union of two companies with proven track records in the specialist area of contemporary classical music publishing. I look forward to Edition Peters Group having new opportunities to develop its unique catalogue as a member of Wise Music Group’s international family of music publishers”.