Warner Music Group Acquires Majority Stake In Tempo Music Investments

Warner Music Group Corp. (WMG) has announced the acquisition of a controlling stake in Tempo Music Investments, a premier investment platform for music rights, from Providence Equity Partners. Despite the transaction, Providence will retain a minority stake in Tempo and continue advising WMG.

Warner Music Group Strengthens Its Music Rights Portfolio

Tempo Music Investments, founded in 2019 through a partnership between WMG and Providence, was designed to leverage Providence's investment expertise and WMG's music industry leadership to support artists and songwriters globally. Over the years, Tempo has built a diverse catalog of premium music rights, focusing on empowering talent while delivering strong financial returns.

This strategic acquisition will enhance WMG’s music catalog, increase its administration and distribution capabilities, and further solidify its position as a global leader in music rights management. As additional rights revert to Tempo, WMG expects its investment to become even more valuable over time.

Industry Leaders on the Acquisition

Guy Moot, Co-Chair & CEO of Warner Chappell Music, stated:"By acquiring Tempo’s impressive catalog, we’re expanding Warner Chappell’s reach, bringing in rights from songwriters we currently don’t represent and enhancing our partnerships with existing ones. Tempo has curated a well-rounded catalog, and I’m eager to unlock new opportunities and maximize the value of these songs."

Michael Ryan-Southern, EVP & Chief Corporate Development Officer at WMG, added:"WMG and Tempo have a long-standing partnership with shared goals of elevating great music and catalogs. This acquisition aligns with our strategy to grow our influence, build scale, and drive high-margin revenue."

Michael Dominguez, Senior Managing Director & Chief Investment Officer at Providence, commented:"Tempo has developed a high-quality catalog featuring top artists and songwriters, benefiting from a strong collaboration with WMG. This deal represents an exciting evolution for Tempo, and we look forward to supporting its continued growth."

Tempo Music’s Star-Studded Catalog

Since its launch, Tempo has secured music rights from some of today’s biggest artists and songwriters, including:

• Tyler Joseph (Twenty One Pilots)
• Wiz Khalifa (multi-platinum recording artist)
• Florida Georgia Line (country music duo)
• Brett James & Shane McAnally (GRAMMY®-winning songwriters)
• Stefan Forrest, Morten Pilegaard, Morten Ristorp Jensen, & Jaramye Daniels (Lukas Graham)

Additionally, Tempo holds rights from top artists, producers, and songwriters, including:

• Jonas Brothers, Ben Rector, Korn
• Mia Fieldes (singer-songwriter)
• Philip Lawrence (24k Magic, Uptown Funk - Bruno Mars; All I Ask - Adele)
• Malay (producer & Frank Ocean collaborator)
• Jeff Bhasker (GRAMMY®-winning artist, songwriter, producer)

Moelis & Company served as financial advisor, while Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP acted as legal counsel for Tempo and Providence.

This acquisition marks another significant step in Warner Music Group’s expansion in the music rights space, further positioning the company as a leader in the global music industry.