Symphonic targets catalog acquisitions and indie artist financing deals with launch of Symphonic NEXT

Symphonic, the Tampa-based music technology and services company, has launched a new program designed to connect independent artists, labels, and managers with catalog financing, royalty advances, and acquisition opportunities.

The program, called Symphonic NEXT, will be led by Michelle Garramone, who joined the company earlier this month as Head of Strategic Partnerships, according to an announcement on Thursday (April 30).

The company said Symphonic NEXT marks its first dedicated initiative in catalog deals and strategic partnerships.

On the scope of transactions the program is designed to support, Symphonic CEO Jorge Brea told MBW that “NEXT is designed to be flexible across a wide range of opportunities, typically supporting transactions from catalogs generating around $25,000 in LTM earnings to larger, multi-million dollar acquisitions, depending on the opportunity.”

Brea added: “Symphonic has built a strong, sustainable business with a healthy balance sheet, and through the NEXT program we partner with well-capitalized investors who are actively deploying into music assets. Collectively, this represents access to over $100 million in capital to support catalog acquisitions and artist financing opportunities.”

The program spans three areas. Symphonic said it will offer royalty advances based on catalog performance, “providing capital to support growth initiatives, operations, or new investments without requiring clients to give up ownership of their rights.”

Symphonic NEXT also offers what the company describes as a catalog optimization “for those interested in increasing catalog value ahead of a potential transaction,” covering metadata cleanup, revenue audits, DSP visibility, marketing and playlisting strategies, and rights administration.

The program also offers “partial or full catalog” acquisitions, either directly through Symphonic or in partnership “with aligned investment funds,” the company said.

“Our goal is to provide independent artists, labels, and managers with access to capital and partnerships that help them build long-term, sustainable businesses.”

Jorge Brea, Symphonic

Jorge Brea said: “Symphonic NEXT is a natural evolution of our platform and the work we’ve already been doing to support our clients beyond distribution.”

“We’ve grown our capabilities around advances, catalog strategy, and deal structuring, and we see a clear opportunity to continue expanding in this area. Our goal is to provide independent artists, labels, and managers with access to capital and partnerships that help them build long-term, sustainable businesses.”

“We are working closely with both rightsholders and capital partners to identify opportunities, optimize assets, and structure deals that make sense for all parties.”

Michelle Garramone

Garramone said: “Symphonic NEXT reflects our continued focus on building meaningful relationships across the music and investment communities.

“We are working closely with both rightsholders and capital partners to identify opportunities, optimize assets, and structure deals that make sense for all parties. This is an important step in expanding how independent music businesses access and benefit from capital.”

Garramone previously served as President of Blue Rose Music and later worked as an independent advisor to artists, labels, and music companies on expansion strategy, restructuring, and operational matters. She brings more than 15 years of experience across artist development, distribution strategy, and catalog planning.

The launch comes amid a period of expansion for Symphonic. Last month, the company acquired Distro Nation, a music distribution and YouTube monetization platform, bringing the YouTube channels of artists including Lindsey Stirling, Sabaton, Yanni, Good Charlotte, and Switchfoot under its management.

In November 2025, Symphonic struck a deal with direct-to-fan platform EVEN to bring “sell-before-streaming” storefronts to its creators. In September, the company expanded its presence in Puerto Rico through a partnership with indie label High Ground Music. In July, it hired a team of A&R Client Development Leads to expand its presence in Europe.

Symphonic NEXT launches into an increasingly active landscape of alternative funding options for independent artists, labels, and distributors.

In January, Matt Spetzler’s investment firm Jamen Capital launched Pipeline, a $200 million-backed financing platform with ambitions to become the “largest funder of independent music globally.” Days later, Pipeline struck a partnership with Merlin to give the indie licensing agency’s members access to advances against digital royalties.

Also in January, Primary Wave Music made a strategic investment in RUN, a music financing platform founded by former Amuse CEO Diego Farias, allowing the platform to target advance opportunities of up to $25 million per transaction.

Music financing platform beatBread has deployed over $100 million across 1,700 funding agreements since its founding in 2020. The company raised $124 million in fresh funding last year from backers including equity capital from Citi, Deciens Capital, Mucker Capital, and Advantage Capital.

Elsewhere, music investment company Duetti secured $200 million in fresh financing in January, led by a $50 million Series C equity investment from The Raine Group.

Symphonic was founded in 2006 by Brea and remains fully independent. The company raised $37 million in a Series B round in 2022, led by NewSpring and Ballast Point Ventures. Its roster includes Imogen Heap, Jon Batiste, Doechii, Ryuichi Sakamoto, Sarah McLachlan, Melissa Etheridge, Odesza, and Reel Big Fish, among others.Music Business Worldwide