Another day, another flood of music industry deals. How does one keep track? In an effort to provide an overview of the latest acquisitions, mergers, joint ventures, licensing agreements and more, Billboard publishes a list of all of the latest pacts that have hit our radar every other Thursday.
This week’s list includes a Cutting Edge deal for AMC Studios’ music rights; a distribution agreement for Hayley Williams‘ new label, Post Atlantic (get it?); the merger of two physical distributors under the umbrella of The Orchard; the latest acquisition for the dance music-focused BEAT Music Fund; a licensing pact that could quite literally save lives; a partnership between VENU and Tixr; and much more.
To start this week, Cutting Edge Group (CEG) acquired full ownership of AMC Studios‘ music rights catalog in a pact that includes both publishing and masters. The deal includes compositions from series including The Walking Dead, Anne Rice’s Interview With the Vampire, Into the Badlands and Dark Winds. Under the agreement, CEG has secured rights to music from future seasons of existing franchises and will collaborate with AMC Studios on the music for upcoming series, including The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon (set to premiere in September), Anne Rice’s The Vampire Lestat (expected next year) and Anne Rice’s Talamasca: The Secret Order (debuting in October). The deal allows AMC Networks, for which AMC Studios develops and produces original programming, to continue using the music in AMC Studios series.
See below for more of the latest deals in the music business.
Secretly Distribution/Post Atlantic
Secretly Distribution struck a partnership with Hayley Williams‘ label, Post Atlantic, to provide physical and digital distribution, digital and retail marketing, and financial and technological support for all Post Atlantic releases. Secretly will distribute the upcoming physical edition of Williams’ new album, Ego Death at A Bachelorette Party, on Nov. 7. Ego Death marks Williams’ first independent album release since the end of her contract with Atlantic Records.
SPV Distribution/Membran
SPV Distribution and Membran merged to form OPEN (Orchard Physical European Network), a physical distribution entity operating under The Orchard umbrella. The deal merges SPV and Membran employees, clients and accounts under a new structure that will operate separately from SPV’s former in-house labels, which will keep their current setup and staff while being administered through OPEN. SPV managing director Frank Uhle will lead OPEN as managing director, while The Orchard’s senior finance director, Michael Kirschnick, will oversee finance and accounting operations for the new entitry. “By bringing together the strengths of SPV and Membran, we are establishing a formidable network that ensures our artists and labels receive unparalleled content implementation, supply chain optimization, and expanded label services, all powered by The Orchard’s robust ecosystem,” said Uhle in a statement.
BEAT Music Fund/Mixmash Records
BEAT Music Fund, a dance music investment company from Armada Music Group, acquired the entire master catalog of Olga Hijns and Laidback Luke‘s dance label Mixmash Records. The label, launched in 2004, distributes house music subgenres including electro house, future house and progressive house. It has released tracks including “Show Me Love” with Steve Angello and Laidback Luke (featuring Robin S) and “Turbulence” by Steve Aoki and Laidback Luke featuring Lil Jon. According to a press release, Mixmash’s catalog has racked up more than 500 million streams.
American College of Surgeons/Lifesaving Technologies
The American College of Surgeons (ACS) and Lifesaving Technologies struck a licensing deal that will expand access to lifesaving emergency response equipment and training at arenas, stadiums, theaters, concert halls and other live event venues across the United States. Under the agreement, Lifesaving Technologies is officially licensed to distribute ACS-authorized bleeding control supplies and deploy ACS emergency aid stations at venues.
VENU Holding Corporation/Tixr
VENU Holding Corporation, which develops, owns and operates live music venues, signed a strategic partnership with Tixr. Under the deal, Tixr will serve as the official ticketing and integrated commerce partner for four of VENU’s music halls: The Hall at Bourbon Brothers in Gainesville, Ga.; Phil Long Music Hall in Colorado Springs, Colo.; The Hall at Bourbon Brothers in Centennial, Colo., which is set to open next year; and one additional future VENU property. In addition to the ticketing agreement, Tixr made a capital contribution to VENU.
StrmMusic/YouTube
StrmMusic, billed as a “music career accelerator,” signed a global distribution partnership with YouTube that will allow artists to monetize original content published on YouTube that’s connected to a channel approved under StrmMusic’s network, from music videos to tour diaries. StrmMusic, which says it has more than 60,000 artists in its network worldwide, provides financial and educational resources, AI-supported coaching and more.
RCA Records/Bourne Creatives
RCA Records partnered with Dylan Bourne’s Bourne Creatives to sign and develop new artists in all genres. Bourne Creatives will continue working with its existing artist management roster independent of the RCA joint venture.
CBGB/Global Merchandising Services
CBGB named Global Merchandising Services as its exclusive worldwide licensing agency. Under the deal, CBGS and Global Merchandising will partner on a new brand program, set to launch this fall, that will be “rooted in the emotional legacy of” the iconic New York music venue that helped launch punk and new wave into the mainstream as well as its “profound impact on music and culture for more than five decades.” Products will begin releasing this month to coincide with the CBGB Festival set for Sept. 27 in Brooklyn, which will feature headliners Iggy Pop and Jack White. Additionally, CBGB has named several new apparel partners, including John Varvatos, Ed Hardy and Dixxon.
Does Entertainment & ENDIT/Knitting Factory Entertainment
Does Entertainment and ENDIT announced a new joint ownership structure for the 465-capacity downtown Denver venue Ophelia’s Electric Soapbox and named Knitting Factory Entertainment as its primary talent buyer.
