Music

Full Suite of Services for Music Industry Clients

Akin provides strategic counsel to music industry clients across the media ecosystem. We advise across the full lifecycle of music and music-related assets and businesses—from creation, daily operations and monetization to complex, often cross‑border, financings, acquisitions and exits.

Our integrated platform allows clients to engage a single firm for transactional, commercial, regulatory and intellectual property (IP) matters while leveraging deep industry knowledge and subject matter expertise.

Our music team advises music companies and creators, private equity (PE) sponsors, alternative investment management firms and other investors, performance rights organizations (PROs), digital service providers (DSPs) and distribution platforms, publishers, administrators and rights holders. Our clients include the music industry’s leading operating companies, including music publishers, record labels, music distributors and royalty administrators, as well as institutional investors.

Clients choose Akin for our ability to pair market‑leading transactional experience with deep knowledge of how music businesses actually operate. We bring decades of experience advising on sophisticated transactions while remaining closely involved in the day‑to‑day commercial and operational issues that drive long‑term value.

Our team is consistently ranked among the Music Legal Elite by Variety; Top Music Lawyers by The Hollywood Reporter; and Leading Lawyers in Media & Entertainment: Transactional by The Legal 500.

Investments, Acquisitions & Financings

Our music industry lawyers advise on sophisticated transactions, investments and the launch of innovative music and entertainment ventures. We provide strategic counsel on:

• Music catalog acquisitions and sales
• Mergers & acquisitions (M&A) and joint ventures (JVs)
• Asset‑backed securitizations (ABS) and structured music financings
• Royalty financings, advances and alternative capital structures
• Debt, equity and hybrid investments, including related tax considerations.

Our team has deep experience navigating cross‑border music transactions involving strategic copyright considerations, multinational catalog acquisitions, global royalty financings and investments involving rights administered and monetized across multiple jurisdictions.

We regularly advise on notable music catalog acquisitions and financings, representing sponsors, operating companies and capital providers across the market. Our experience includes structuring and negotiating music ABS, structured financings, asset and stock purchase transactions and bespoke royalty-backed investment arrangements.

Representing both lenders and borrowers in connection with revolving loan facilities, we are especially well versed in helping clients navigate the process of structuring complex credit facilities distinctively suited to the unique dynamics of the entertainment industry.

Operations, Commercial & Rights-Based Matters

We represent music business clients on the commercial and operational matters that underpin their businesses. Operating companies rely on Akin to provide comprehensive advice on governance, compliance and ongoing operations.

Our team assists music industry clients on all aspects of acquiring, selling and growing an entertainment asset or company, including:

• Streaming, distribution and platform agreements
• Music publishing, administration and sub‑publishing arrangements
• Recording, artist, producer and songwriter agreements
• Licensing of music content (B2B and B2C), production and exploitation
• Royalty administration and audit‑related issues.

Our experience allows us to counsel clients on:

• Copyright and trademark strategy and registrations
• Sound recordings/master rights, compositions/publishing rights and all related royalty rights (e.g., neighbouring rights, performance royalties, etc.)
• Name, image & likeness (NIL) and rights of publicity
• Global exploitation and administration issues
• Copyright reversion analysis and termination of transfers
• Merchandising, endorsement and sponsorship arrangements.

Furthermore, as technology continues to reshape the music industry, we advise clients on emerging legal and regulatory issues, including:

• Artificial intelligence (AI)‑generated content and training data
• Data privacy and cross‑border arrangements
• Monetization of data across digital platforms and new distribution models.

Integrated Cross-Practice Support

 Drawing on the resources of a full-service global law firm, our music lawyers work hand-in-hand with colleagues in film, TV & digital media, corporate, finance, investment management, tax, IP, litigation, regulatory, trade, policy, data protection, restructuring and labor & employment. We regularly support cross‑border music transactions and operations, leveraging Akin’s global platform to coordinate legal, tax, regulatory and IP advice across jurisdictions. Our integrated approach allows us to deliver bespoke, commercially grounded advice aligned with each client’s business strategy, risk profile and growth objectives.

Representative Matters

Mergers, Acquisitions & Joint Ventures

• Represented Francisco Partners, a leading private equity firm, in its sale of Kobalt to Primary Wave Music.
• Represented Blackstone, a leading alternative investment manager, in its $1.6 billion acquisition of Hipgnosis Songs Fund and a catalog of more than 45,000 songs by artists such as the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Journey and Shakira, and in its ABS of such assets.
• Represented Universal Music Group, a leading music-based entertainment company, in its $240 million investment in Chord Music Partners, a portfolio of music assets.
• Represented Blackstone in its transformative partnership with Hipgnosis Song Management to deliver c.$1 billion to acquire and manage song catalogues, with follow-on catalogue purchases from iconic artists, including Kenny Chesney, Leonard Cohen, Erika Ender, Justin Timberlake, TMS, Nelly Furtado and Justin Bieber.
• Represented Providence Equity Partners, a leading private equity firm, in its investment in Wasserman, a sports, music and culture agency.
• Represented DistroKid, the world’s leading distributor of independent music and portfolio company of Silversmith Capital Partners, in its substantial investment from Insight Partners.
• Represented Alpha Wave Global, a global investment company, in its $100 million Series A preferred equity investment in a media and technology company focused on music, film, podcasting and creative services.

Financings

• Represented Francisco Partners in a growth investment comprised of tranche A and tranche B term loans that funded the combination of Hal Leonard and Muse Group, creating a leading global music platform.
• Represented East West Bank in a credit facility to Sound Royalties, a firm that provides funding to music creators against music royalties.
• Represented Seeker Music Group, a global independent music company, in its $267 million music ABS.
• Represented a confidential music publisher in connection with the amendment and restatement of its multimillion-dollar credit facility.
• Represented East West Bank in a senior secured revolving line of credit to 88rising, a music entertainment company focused on Asian and Asian American hip-hop and R&B.
• Represented HPS Investment Partners, a leading alternative investment manager, in connection with a loan to Kobalt Music Group, one of the world’s largest music publishers. Kobalt’s portfolio includes a diverse range of artists, including Childish Gambino, Elvis Presley, Foo Fighters, Paul McCartney, Stevie Nicks and The Weeknd.

Intellectual Property, Technology & Data Privacy

• Representing clients in licensing transactions, both in B2B and B2C settings, including software and copyrights, trademarks, patents, know-how and data licensing.
• Representing both licensors and licensees in the commercialization and licensing of music and audiovisual assets.
• Counseling clients in the emerging media, entertainment and advertising industries, including website and mobile application developers, over-the-top (OTT) service providers, digital advertising and e-commerce businesses.
• Represented Reservoir Media, an independent music company, in connection with license and structuring matters.

Disputes & Advocacy

• Representing a major talent agency in a high-profile force majeure action involving multiple artist clients following the cancellation of a music festival event due to COVID-19.
• Advocated on behalf of a Korean fashion company in a high-profile action against individuals for fraud and breach of contract claims relating to a number of world-renowned musicians and artists.
• Represented a major live entertainment company in consumer class actions alleging fraud related to the sale and distribution of concert tickets, as well as alleged violations of the Telephone Consumer Protection Act.
• Advised the National Independent Venue Association (NIVA), an association of more than 2,500 independent music clubs, to organize and call for federal help while forced to shut down due to COVID-19.

List includes matters worked on by Akin lawyers prior to joining the firm.