Universal and BMG Part with German Label Bosses

The German units of two major music labels have both parted with their top executives. On Thursday Universal Music said Tim Renner, the chairman of its German division, was leaving the world’s largest music company due to differences of opinion with the label’s U.S.-based leadership. One day later, media giant Bertelsmann announced BMG Germany boss Thomas Stein would also clean out his desk. Stein has been criticized for being a jury member of the German “Pop Idol” reality TV show (known as “Deutschland sucht den Superstar” in Germany), which is broadcast by RTL Television. RTL and BMG are both Bertelsmann subsidiaries. There is also speculation Stein’s departure will aid merging BMG with Sony’s music label. As for Universal’s break with Renner, he has been an proponent of smaller niche music and local German acts while the company wanted to push large international artists.