BEAT Music Fund Acquires Amsterdam Music Publisher, Cloud 9 Music; Armada Music Forms Armada Music Group as Parent Company

16 April 2024 - Press release

The acquisition further strengthens Armada Music Group’s publishing division, underscoring the company’s mission to creatively fuel the dance industry under one roof

 

BEAT Music Fund, the first-ever dance investment fund from Armada Music, has announced the acquisition of Amsterdam-based music publisher, Cloud 9 Music, bolstering Armada’s existing publishing division. As part of the acquisition, the teams of Armada Music’s existing publishing company, Armada Publishing B.V., and Cloud 9 Music will merge to form Armada Music Publishing. This strategic move underscores Armada’s mission to position itself as the best partner in the in-demand global electronic dance industry, projected to reach $20.9 billion by 2033. 

As part of the acquisition, Cloud 9 Music’s copyright assets and songwriters will be serviced and administered by Armada Music Publishing. Employees from Cloud 9 Music will join the team, effectively tripling its headcount. Armada Music Publishing will include a full-service and experienced publishing back-office team operating under its newly formed parent company, Armada Music Group. The Group was established to seamlessly offer label, publishing, and catalog acquisition services under one roof with a mission to bolster creativity for current and prospective representation. By merging the label’s artist-centric approach to creativity with the burgeoning opportunities for artists in the publishing world, this acquisition synergistically enables Armada Music Group to broaden its endeavors and provide comprehensive guidance to artists within a unified framework. Maykel Piron will oversee Armada Music Publishing and its entities; Chief Financial Officer, Margôt Hölscher, General Manager, Michel Peek, and Head of Publishing Administration, Ronald Visser encompass Armada Music Publishing leadership team. 

“This acquisition is significant to us and will boost our ability to empower today’s dance artists and expand their opportunities to monetize their work in the current landscape,” said Piron, CEO and co-founder of Armada Music Group. “Now more than ever, today’s artists need a trusted partner. Providing label, publishing services and opportunities within catalog investment all under one roof directly fuels our ongoing mission to advocate for dance artists, contribute to their success, and uphold the value of creativity.”

The Group’s publishing power move allows Armada Music Publishing to now represent a roster of world-renowned songwriters, producers and emerging talent, including Armin van Buuren, Brennan Heart, Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike, D.O.D, Dubvision, Kevin Saunderson, Nervo, Reinier Zonneveld, Sander van Doorn, Vini Vici, W&W, Yulia Niko, Priska, KDYN and more. The publishing catalog also includes global dance hits such as Armin van Buuren’s Grammy Award-nominated ‘This Is What It Feels Like’, ‘Reality’ by Lost Frequencies and Da Beatfreakz’ co-written share in ‘Prada’ which was originally performed by Cassö, D-Block Europe, and Raye.

BEAT Music Fund launched in April 2023 as an artist-friendly vehicle to unlock value from recordings and copyrights within the thriving dance arena. Its success has fueled the acquisitions of Cloud 9, iconic NY-based dance label King Street Sounds, Dutch dance duo Chocolate Puma, and UK-based labels Sola Records and VIVa MUSiC, among others. With BEAT planning to increase its investment to at least $500 million in the coming years, Armada Music and Armada Music Publishing will work in tandem to uphold the legacy of dance artists and protect their work's creative and commercial value.