Warner Music Group acquires Forza Music

05 July 2019 - Press release

Deal sees WMG welcome the legendary Slovak OPUS catalogue

Warner Music Group has acquired leading Slovakian entertainment company Forza Music.  Forza owns the extensive catalogue of OPUS, Slovakia’s former state-run record company, which produced the vast majority of the country’s music releases from the 1960s to the 1990s.  It is the second largest record company in Slovakia, one of the fastest growing markets in central Europe.

Warner Music intends to revive the famous OPUS brand as a frontline label, focusing on pop, rock and children’s repertoire.  It will also work to maximise the exposure of the OPUS catalogue – from artists such as Collegium Musicum, Karol Duchoň, Marika Gombitová and Team – on digital services.  The label will be headed by Julius Kincek, one of Slovakia’s best-known record producers.

Vladimir Kočandrle, Managing Director of Warner Music Czech Republic, says: “I’m delighted that we’re able to bring Forza Music into the Warner family and relaunch the legendary OPUS brand.  It’s fantastic that the hugely respected Julius Kincek will lead OPUS as we write the next chapter of the label’s story.”

Julius Kincek adds: “I’m very excited about this opportunity to work with one of the world’s biggest music companies.  It’s the first time I’ve been involved in such a deal and I’m full of expectations about what we can achieve together.”  

Alfonso Perez-Soto, EVP, Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa, concludes: “We’ve performed extremely strongly in the Czech Republic and Slovakia under Vladimir’s leadership.  He’s now delivered this great deal that brings us an iconic brand and catalogue, cementing a unique link between Warner Music and Slovakia.  This is just the latest step in our strategy of expanding Warner Music’s footprint in emerging markets around the world.”

Forza Music was founded in 1994 and its activities have grown exponentially to cover a wide range of creative output.  As a record company, it has built up a catalogue of hundreds of releases, as well as acting as Warner Music’s licensee in Slovakia for a number of years.