BMG’s CEO Hartwig Masuch told Music Week that the company is “the only viable international alternative to the majors,” as he hailed the success of Rick Astley’s recent album as a “striking endorsement” of BMG’s international recorded music team.

Astley scored his first No.1 in 28 years with his new LP, 50, which topped the Official Album chart on June 16. The album has sold a combined total of 45,557, with 34,911 physical, 10,085 as permanent downloads and 561 from ...