Create Music Group Completes $450 Million Fundraise

Create Music Group has announced the successful completion of its latest funding round, valuing the company at $2.2 billion and securing over $450 million of new equity and debt capital to support its continued expansion. Create, which was founded in 2015, remains majority-owned by its founders, with institutional investors Ares Management, 2 Mile, and Flexpoint Ford each holding minority stakes. The financing round also included expanded bank group support, with Truist Securities and Banc of California serving as joint lead arrangers.

This move follows Create’s strategic investment in Nettwerk Music Group, which includes artists like Sarah McLachlan, Vacations, SYML, Paris Paloma and others.

“At a time when the future of media, technology, and creative ownership is being rewritten, we’ve become the definitive platform for the music and media industries’ most visionary entrepreneurs,” said Jonathan Strauss, co-founder and CEO, Create Music Group. “This capital will not only accelerate our roadmap, expanding our footprint in media, IP and technology, but also empower our partners to build generational businesses that redefine culture and value creation across the global entertainment ecosystem.”

+ Electric Feel Entertainment has promoted Jamie Lierk to COO, overseeing and optimizing day-to-day operations across all verticals while building the infrastructure and overseeing operations in Los Angeles and Nashville as well as the company’s upcoming Miami expansion. The company’s roster includes Post Malone, Quavo and Marcus King as well as songwriters and producers including Louis Bell, Billy Walsh, Nick Mira, Carter Lang and more.

Lierk joined Electric Feel in 2019 as executive assistant to CEO Austin Rosen and was promoted to chief of staff in 2021. Previously, she held roles at Brew Media Relations, Maverick Management (with Guy Oseary), and Untitled, Inc.

“Jamie has always been a valuable member of our team, and I’m thrilled to support her as she steps into the role of COO,” Rosen said. “This transition is a natural progression of the operational leadership she has demonstrated over the past several years and positions Electric Feel strongly for its next phase of growth.”

+ Nashville-based singer-songwriter Mary Kutter has signed with WME for global representation. She first made her mark as a songwriter with tracks on albums by Bailey Zimmerman, Nate Smith, Alexandra Kay and Zach John King. She is signed to a label deal with BBR Music Group/BMG Nashville and released a new single, “Bed of Roses,” last month.

“Mary is the kind of artist who writes and performs with conviction,” said WME’s Lance Roberts. “There’s an authenticity to her work that feels both rooted and forward-looking. She has already built a meaningful career as a songwriter, and we’re excited to help expand her live business as she steps fully into this moment as an artist.”

+ Concord Music Publishing has signed Nashville-based songwriter-producer Nathan Wallace. The worldwide publishing deal is effective immediately, covering future works. Wallace has securled multiple synch placements across hit series including Netflix’s “Love Is Blind,” “Love Island USA,” MTV’s “Teen Mom,” TLC’s “90 Day Fiancée,” “All American,” “Married at First Sight,” and “Found” on Peacock.

Concord VP of A&R Matt Turner said, “Nathan came highly recommended by mutual friends, and it didn’t take long to understand why. His infectious energy fills the room, his production is fresh and unique, and his personality is one that makes collaboration feel effortless and inspiring!”

+ Sony Music Publishing has promoted  Michael Riggs to the role of senior VP of licensing and income tracking, effective immediately. Based in SMP’s Nashville office, Riggs, a nearly three-decade veteran of the company, will continue to report to the company’s EVP of worldwide administration, Dale Esworthy. 

In his elevated role, Riggs will focus on strengthening tracking operations and enhancing matching capabilities for digital deals in the U.S. and globally. He will also continue to lead the Licensing, Sync Administration, Global Income Tracking and Client Audit teams.

 Esworthy said, “Michael’s unwavering persistence in the digital space has strengthened our ability to collect more, collect faster, and ensure timely payments to our songwriters. His relentless pursuit of unpaid royalties and leadership in licensing emerging revenue streams have been invaluable to our mission.”

+ Sync Music Global has announced a new major partnership with Kobalt for worldwide sub publishing and administration. Under the new deal, Kobalt will oversee global administration for the company’s rapidly growing catalogue and roster of songwriters and producers. The multi-faceted deal also includes a newly formed joint venture, enabling both companies to collaborate on future writer signings.

Founded by British rapper Avelino alongside music executives Gautier Mukuna and Rowland Ashitey, Sync Music Global’s clients include Avelino, Blanco, Black Sherif, One Acen, JB Scofield, Kyile Evans, and many more.

+ Nashville-based A&R executive Sarah Marie Burke has launched a new venture called Sarmar Management with a goal of delivering “organized production management services that support artists and creative teams across both studio and live productions.” The company will oversee recording projects from pre-production through final delivery, managing various aspects such as schedules, budgets, booking, union coordination, metadata collection, and label communication. Additionally, she provides live show production management.

Burke also announced her partnership with Veva Sound, a music technology company known for its long-standing role in audio verification, archiving, and metadata integrity for sound recordings.

“This venture was born from my deep love of music and the people who create it, along with a passion for helping to bring recordings and live performances to life,” Burke said. “Whether in the studio or backstage, I manage the details start to finish, taking care of the logistics so that artists and their teams can focus on creating.”

+ Ariana Sacco has joined Metro Public Relations as account supervisor, music. Based in Los Angeles, she will report directly to head of music Taylor Webster. Sacco previously managed communications for companies including Serato, HeadCount, SoundCloud, Spotify, Sony Electronics, and more during her time at boutique PR agency Hustle&Co.