DMB Secures World Rights

By Waldo Jaquith
New information has become available about Dave Matthews Band's new contract with RCA, with the notable bit being that they have obtained control of their music outside of North America, leaving them able to make their own deals for their extra-U.S. recordings. Previously, DMB had a relationship with BMG Europe (owned by Bertelsmann, who also owns of RCA), but they quietly ended that deal in the summer of 2002. The band has never had a meaningful presence outside of the US, with some in the industry faulting BMG/RCA for that problem. Presumably, this aspect of their new contract indicates the they intend to take matters into their own hands, or at least leave open the possibility for them to do so somewhere down the line.