Sony BMG Music Entertainment

Sony BMG Music Entertainment is the result of a merger and a 50/50 partnership between Sony Music Entertainment (part of Sony) and BMG Entertainment (part of Bertelsmann AG) completed in August 2004. It is one of the "Big Four" music companies, and includes recording labels such as Arista Records, Columbia Records, Epic Records, J Records, RCA Records, and others.

Financial analysts covering the merger anticipated that up to 2000 jobs could be cut as a result, saving Sony BMG approximately $350 million annually.