Definition

Bertelsmann Music Group, a major music distribution and retail company that competed directly with Columbia House, offering similar mail-order club deals for records, tapes, and CDs from the 1980s through early 2000s. BMG operated as a membership subscription service with introductory offers and mandatory purchase commitments.

Example Usage

She signed up for BMG Music Club to get a bulk discount on CDs, not realizing the shipping costs would eat into her savings.

Origin

BMG was established by German media conglomerate Bertelsmann; its music division dominated mail-order sales in North America and Europe.

Fun Fact

BMG later pivoted to become a major music publishing and rights management company, surviving longer than Columbia House and eventually merging with Sony Music in 2004.

Source: Definition backfill (hailey)

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