Page "Zomba Group of Companies" Paragraph 17

With the successful integration of Rough Trade into its operations in the GSA region and Benelux and to expand on recent teen pop successes, Zomba created a London-based international label group, Zomba International Records Group.

Directed by Stuart Watson, the new organization allowed each new local territory to freely sign and develop acts on its own.

If those artists could create a strong regional profile, it would be possible to " export " them to Zomba International for broader exposure.

Simultaneously, it allowed Zomba artists increased international exposure.

The expansion was largely unhampered, save for some legal issues with the Australian branch.

Australian record company Festival Mushroom Group lost at least a dozen employees to Zomba in early 1999, and placed an injunction that stopped them from soliciting Mushroom employees, and accused former employee Scott Murphy of trying to bolster Zomba's presence while still working for Mushroom.

However, the issue was resolved fairly amicably and ended with a distribution deal with BFM Distribution ( a joint venture of Festival Mushroom Group and BMG ).