In February 1979 BBC Enterprises added a publishing division, BBC Music, to its portfolio. According to Billboard’s report the administration will be handled by a “major publishing house”.
A month or so later, on 1st April no less, BBC Enterprises was transferred to BBC Enterprises Ltd. This shifted it from being a BBC department to a subsidiary of the corporation. As well as being able to invest in BBC productions and retain international distribution rights it freed them up from certain constraints of the BBC’s charter. They could now compete on an “equal footing” with their “commercial rivals”.