Sony Music will completely leave Russia - the tracks of many musicians will disappear from streaming

Sony Music Group has become the first major recording company to completely leave Russia. About it writes Billboard.

The exit from the market will take place six months after the suspension of work in March 2022. Then Sony Music stopped adding new releases to Russian streaming services.

Now the Russian division will be transferred to a local management company, which will be responsible for working with Russian musicians who previously collaborated with a global label. This company will be completely independent from Sony Music Group.

Foreign artists are not included in the terms of the deal, so their releases should soon disappear from all music services in Russia. For example, Avril Lavigne, Shakira, Britney Spears, Beyoncé, Dido, Pink, One Direction, Bon Jovi and others work with Sony.

Universal Music Group and Warner Music Group also ceased operations in the country in early March, freezing all investment, promotional activities, production and new releases. However, previously released albums and tracks are still available to Russian listeners.