BMG has acquired Cologne record label Coconut Music's catalog, including 100% ownership of Haddaway's recorded rights. The deal's centerpiece is the iconic 1993 hit "What Is Love," which has garnered over one billion streams, partly due to its memorable feature in 'A Night at the Roxbury' (1998).

The acquisition includes Coconut Music's 2,500-track catalog, featuring artists like Bad Boys Blue, London Beat, and Wolfgang Petry. This deal follows BMG's 2022 acquisition of Haddaway's recorded royalties, consolidating their control over the '90s dance classic.

"What Is Love" has maintained its cultural relevance through various adaptations, including:

• Eminem's "No Love" (2010) featuring Lil Wayne, which sold one million downloads
• David Guetta's "Baby Don't Hurt Me" (2023), featuring Anne-Marie and Coi Leray, which charted in over 30 countries and received a Grammy nomination

The original track achieved remarkable success, including:

• 2.6 million copies sold
• #1 position in 13 countries
• #11 on Billboard Hot 100
• Four platinum and seven gold awards

Karin Hartmann and Tony Hendrik founded Coconut Music (originally Coconut Records) in 1981 in Cologne. Hartmann expressed satisfaction with BMG's understanding of the catalog's significance, while BMG's EVP Maximilian Kolb emphasized their commitment to preserving the legacy of "What Is Love" and its influence on Europop.

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