Virgin Music Group, Common Music Group‘s international indie artist and label providers division, has acquired once more.
This time, VMG has swooped for Outdustry, an artist and label providers and rights administration enterprise targeted on China, India and different “high-potential markets”.
The deal marks the most recent international M&A transfer from Common‘s Virgin Music Group, and follows the acquisition of Saban Music Latin in January.
As a part of the deal, Outdustry founder Ed Peto has been named Senior Vice President of Worldwide Technique at Virgin Music Group, whereas additionally persevering with his function as CEO of Outdustry.
Based mostly in London, Peto will be a part of the corporate’s international management workforce and, based on Virgin Music Group, will “play a key function in charting the corporate’s progress technique in China, India and different fast-growing areas.”
Peto will report back to Virgin Music Group Co-CEOs JT Myers and Nat Pastor, working carefully with Michael Roe, Managing Director of Virgin Music Group’s operations in Africa, Center East, and Asia (AMEA).
“Ed might be a key participant as we chart our international growth plans. We’re completely happy to have him and his workforce onboard for this thrilling subsequent step within the evolution of Virgin Music Group.”
JT Myers
“After greater than 15 years working in China, India, and different territories, Ed and his workforce have constructed unparalleled expertise and relationships in among the world’s most necessary progress markets,” mentioned Myers.
“Ed might be a key participant as we chart our international growth plans. We’re completely happy to have him and his workforce onboard for this thrilling subsequent step within the evolution of Virgin Music Group.”
Established in Beijing in 2008, Outdustry claims to have performed a significant function in worldwide success tales in China and India with artists similar to Adele, Dua Lipa, Lauv, Laufey, Main Lazer/Diplo and Charli XCX, amongst others.
VMG famous on Wednesday (October 30) that Outdustry has additionally led the “landmark” market entries of indie big Beggars Group and licensing physique Merlin, in addition to consulting for Spotify, PRS, Imagine and plenty of different entities throughout Larger China.
The acquisition brings to Virgin Outdustry’s decade-and-a-half expertise in these markets, the place it should proceed to function its advertising and marketing providers, publishing firm, and label companies below the Outdustry model.
Outdustry has employees situated in Beijing, Kuala Lumpur, London, Los Angeles, Mumbai, Shanghai and Taipei.
Along with its advertising and marketing providers enterprise, Outdustry has additionally constructed a music publishing operation, Outdustry Songs, which it launched in 2020.
The corporate famous on Wednesday that it has landed “dozens of cuts” with stars inside the Chinese language pop panorama, together with among the largest hits available in the market with Bibi Zhou, Kun, Jolin Tsai, Chris Lee, Lu Han, Sunnee, Jane Zhang, Vin Zhou, 法老Pharaoh and plenty of others.
The corporate additionally operates a label referred to as Outdustry Data, which it says is “targeted on surfacing the subsequent era of breakout stars from these territories”.
These enterprises will proceed in partnership with Common Music Publishing Group and Virgin Music Group, respectively.
“Bringing every part we’ve constructed at Outdustry into Virgin Music Group represents an unlimited alternative to increase our imaginative and prescient globally.”
Ed Peto
Peto added: “Bringing every part we’ve constructed at Outdustry into Virgin Music Group represents an unlimited alternative to increase our imaginative and prescient globally.
“It’s by no means been a extra thrilling time to be working in music and I’m wanting ahead to working carefully with the unimaginable workforce that Nat and JT have assembled to create extra alternatives for impartial music entrepreneurs and artists all world wide.”
Elsewhere, globally, VMG established a presence in Brazil in 2021, and expanded its involvement in Latin Music with the acquisition of Saban Music Latin earlier this yr. Additionally in 2021, VMG launched an workplace within the Western Balkans.
In 2022, the corporate established a presence in Africa, increasing that with an workplace in Nigeria in 2023.
In August final yr, Common acquired Chabaka Music, a UAE-based music firm specializing in digital distribution, advertising and marketing, publishing, and artist providers throughout the Center East and North Africa (MENA) area. Following the acquisition of Chabaka, the latter firm grew to become a part of UMG’s Virgin Music Group.
In July, VMG partnered with Tokyo-based Frontier Works to launch anime music initiatives.Music Enterprise Worldwide
