New York, February 5 (RHC)-- German music company BMG has decided to sever ties for good with musician Roger Waters, co-founder of legendary band Pink Floyd, Variety reported.  The radical decision came after a series of controversial statements by the British artist regarding Israel, Ukraine and the United States, which have brought him to the center of controversy.  This move would only be a precedent of the changes that are being implemented within the label.

The music publishing deal between BMG and Waters was signed in 2016, which originally included plans for the release of a newly recorded version of Pink Floyd's acclaimed 1973 album Dark Side of the Moon. However, newly appointed CEO Thomas Coesfeld took office on July 1, 2023 and canceled the deal, so the album was ultimately released to the public through UK-based Cooking Vinyl.

Now, despite Waters' work with Pink Floyd offering one of the most important and lucrative music catalogs of the rock era, the BMG label no longer wants him in its ranks as a result of his controversial stances, Variety sources reported.  To date, there has been no official statement from the record company on the matter.

The music publishing deal between BMG and Waters was signed in 2016, and planned to record a new version of Pink Floyd's 1973 album, "Dark Side of the Moon."

Roger Waters' successful rock career has been overshadowed by his recent political comments. His public statements have even been interpreted as a step towards anti-Semitism.  
In a speech before the United Nations Security Council, invited by Russia, the veteran musician suggested that Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine "was not unprovoked", which sparked strong criticism.

Despite the repudiation generated by his words, the 80-year-old artist has remained defiant in his stance and has defended his views on several occasions during his tours, while constantly denying accusations of anti-Semitism against him.

Beyond affecting the relationship between Waters and BMG, the situation has angered his former bandmates, as it has also impacted the chances of selling Pink Floyd's $500 million catalog of recordings.Several interested parties backed out of the acquisition due to the musician's comments and radical stance.Several interested parties desisted from acquiring Pink Floyd's music catalog, valued at 500 million dollars, due to Waters' radical stance. EFE/ Gastón Britos

The Wish You Were Here creator addressed his departure from BMG in an interview with Glenn Greenwald last November, claiming he had been "fired."  Waters attributed his breakup to pro-Israeli pressures as the determining factor behind the decision by Bertelsmann, BMG's parent company.  In an earlier statement, the company had previously expressed its "solidarity with Israel" in the wake of the October 7 Hamas attack.

The split between BMG and Waters is not common in the industry, as record labels tend to keep artist contracts with major publishers.  However, this case reflects a cultural shift at BMG under the new leadership of Thomas Coesfeld, marking a transition to a more contemporary, U.S.-focused approach.

Since its launch in 2008, BMG has positioned itself as the world's fourth largest music company, managing big-name artists and developing a strong music publishing division.  In fact, Kylie Minogue has positioned herself as an established artist, with a current Grammy nomination to be held this weekend.

In addition, Jennifer Lopez's upcoming album release in February also comes as part of the company's strategic moves in search of a more modern direction.