PRESS RELEASES & AD-HOC

Edel SE & Co. KGaA acquires remaining shares in Kontor Records – Management expansion at Kontor Records and Kontor New Media

Hamburg, July 3, 2025

Edel SE & Co. KGaA has acquired the remaining shares in Kontor Records GmbH, making it the sole shareholder of the internationally successful music label. The shares were acquired from H.P. Baxxter (Scooter) and Jens Thele (Managing Director Kontor Records/Kontor New Media & Scooter Manager), the previous co-shareholders.
The complete takeover is part of a long-term development programme that will enable even closer integration with the sister company Kontor New Media. The aim is to make targeted use of synergies within the Edel Group, strengthen innovation potential and sustainably optimise cross-company processes.
Kontor Records will continue to work closely with the band Scooter and the associated publishing house Sheffield Communications Publishing.

As part of the reorganisation, there will be personnel changes in key positions:

Jan Benkmann will be appointed General Manager Marketing and A&R at Kontor Records on 1 August 2025. At the same time, Frank-Peter Leffler will assume the role of General Manager at Kontor New Media.
“With the complete takeover of Kontor Records and the new responsibilities for Jan Benkmann and Frank-Peter Leffler, we are creating a modern structure for further growth. Both embody the values of Edel and Kontor – entrepreneurial thinking, creativity and reliability – and have already provided important impetus in the past.”

Jonas Haentjes, CEO Edel SE & Co. KGaA

“I am delighted that the next generation is now taking on even greater responsibility. After almost 30 years of Kontor Records and over 20 years of Kontor New Media – with so many market changes – I am very proud that both companies continue to be important players in the market.”

Jens Thele, Managing Director and founder of Kontor Records and Kontor New Media

“The closer integration of Kontor Records and Kontor New Media is an important strategic step towards better combining our creative and entrepreneurial strengths. This will not only create more efficient structures, but also new scope for innovation, strong content and future-oriented projects – in the interests of our distribution partners and artists.”

Michael Pohl, Managing Director Kontor New Media