Warner Music Group Launches $1.2B Joint Venture With Bain Capital For Music Acquisitions

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Warner Music Group, in collaboration with investment firm Bain Capital, recently revealed plans for a joint business venture worth approximately $1.2 billion. According to their announcement on Tuesday, this partnership aims at acquiring renowned collections of master recordings and music publishing rights, focusing on iconic music catalogs.

WMG and Bain Capital are planning to collaborate in finding suitable catalog acquisitions, as stated by both parties. If an acquisition occurs, WMG would take charge of marketing, distribution, and administrative tasks.

Or simply:

Together with Bain Capital, WMG is looking for potential catalogs to acquire, and if successful, they will manage the marketing, distribution, and administration aspects.

Famous musicians and lyricists opt for WMG to expand their legacies and share their work with future audiences through powerful and creative marketing strategies,” said Robert Kyncl, CEO of WMG in a statement. “By combining our extensive experience and worldwide resources with Bain Capital’s financial strength and appreciation for music, we aim to become the preferred choice for outstanding catalogs.

In recent years, the market for purchasing music catalogs has become more and more competitive, with numerous companies vying for a piece of the action. Notably, in April, Chord Music Partners – a company backed by Universal Music Group – acquired a minority stake in Morgan Wallen’s recorded catalog from his label Big Loud. Last month, Sony Music Publishing bought Hipgnosis Songs Group. Warner Music Group (WMG) has also been active in this space, taking over a controlling stake in Tempo Music Investments back in February, following their co-founding of the company in 2019. Since its launch, Tempo has acquired rights to songs recorded by artists such as Bruno Mars, Twenty One Pilots, and Adele.

Goldman Sachs and Fifth Third Bank have been named the main organizers for the newly formed partnership between WMG and Bain Capital.

Angelo Rufino, a partner at Bain Capital, stated that timeless music remains vital in consumer entertainment. He emphasized the significance of catalog management because artists and songwriters require assistance to boost the worth of their work while providing fresh collaborations for fans. Warner Music Group, with its rich creative assets and collaborative culture, is an excellent match for Bain Capital as we aim to expand and protect the world’s renowned music.

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2025-07-01 18:24