KKR-backed Artlist joins independent music publishers’ agency IMPEL

Ori Winokur, Artlist Head of Music

Royalty-free music and content platform (and Epidemic Sound rival) Artlist grabbed headlines last summer when financing giant KKR invested $48 million into it.

KKR has gotten pretty busy in music since then, of course – buying up a bundle of copyrights from pop songwriter extraordinaire Ryan Tedder for a nine-figure sum, before forming an alliance with BMG under which both parties will jointly spend more than a billion dollars on music catalogs.

Artlist has been no slouch either. In December last year, it bought motion graphics library Motion Array in a $65m deal – and now it’s joining independent music publishing collective IMPEL.

In addition to the 500,000 digital assets stored across its stock music, video and motion graphics libraries, Israel-based Artlist also runs an in-house record label and music publisher, Artlist Original.

Producing over 1,000 songs a year exclusively for the Artlist catalog, it’s this portfolio of works that IMPEL will now represent as a licensing partner.

IMPEL, an international collective licensing agency representing digital publishing rights, is 100% owned and controlled by its members, which include independent publishers such as Bucks Music Group, Beggars Music, Reservoir Music, Kassner Music, CTM, ABKCO, Truelove Music, Mute Song, Faber Music and Reach Music.

“Joining the IMPEL collective… is a significant strategic step for us at Artlist.”

Ori Winokur, Artlist

Ori Winokur, Artlist Head of Music, said: “Joining the IMPEL collective, which leads the new age of publishing and rights management, is a significant strategic step for us at Artlist.

“We are excited to be part of this group of publishers that will enable us to open up to new markets, strengthen our license, and expand the revenue avenues for our artist community.”

“[Artlist’s] fresh and innovative business model reflects the dynamism of the company.”

Sarah Williams, IMPEL

Sarah Williams, IMPEL CEO, said: “Artlist is a really exciting addition to the IMPEL collective.

“Their fresh and innovative business model reflects the dynamism of the company. It’s clear from our relationship so far that this is a business that is really going places, and we look forward to working with them to achieve their vision.”Music Business Worldwide

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