Los Angeles-headquartered Cinq Music Group has fully acquired Beluga Heights – J.R. Rotem’s joint venture label with Warner Records.
The deal includes the Jason Derulo recordings catalog.
Multi-platinum US star Derulo has sold over 190 million singles worldwide. All four of his solo studio albums (2010’s Jason Derulo, 2011’s Future History, 2013’s Tattoos – re-issued as Talk Dirty in the US – and 2015’s Everything Is 4) were released via Beluga Heights / Warner Records.
Cinq Music Group has confirmed that the Beluga Heights deal is the biggest in its history, surpassing the eight figure (i.e. $10m-plus) acquisition it executed in 2017 for a catalog of albums recorded by rapper T.I.
Last year, Cinq – which dubs itself “the tech-driven indie record label, distribution, and rights management company” – raised $40m from parent GoDigital Media Group in a Series C funding injection.
The announcement of the Beluga Heights acquisition was made today by Jason Peterson, the CEO of Cinq parent GoDigital, alongside Cinq co-founder and President Barry Daffurn.
The Beluga Heights label was founded in 2006 by record producer/songwriter J.R. Rotem, brother/A&R exec Tommy Rotem, and manager Zach Katz. It developed artists such as Derulo, Sean Kingston and lyaz.
In August 2008, the Rotem brothers and Katz inked a joint venture with Warner Records.
“We are grateful that [the Beluga Heights owners] decided to support independents by selling to an independent.”
Jason Peterson, GoDigital
Since the Beluga Heights label ceased operation as a frontline entity in 2010, J.R. Rotem has continued his career as a successful producer – working with the likes of Nicki Minaj, Maroon 5, Gwen Stefani and Chris Brown.
“Zach Katz has been a friend and mentor for many years,” said Peterson. “We were elated when the opportunity arose to acquire Beluga Heights for two reasons; the caliber of the three individuals involved and the fantastic talent they have signed over the years.
“We are grateful that they decided to support independents by selling to an independent.”
“When I first moved to LA to pursue a career in music, Beluga Heights owned the charts – to be a part of the story with Jason Derulo, and the Beluga Heights team, is an honor.”
Barry Daffurn, Cinq Music Group
Added Daffurn: “What Jason [Derulo] has been able to do for such a long time is incredible. He was with Warner Records for 12 years, has hits spanning that entire time period, and continues to make hit records today.
“When I first moved to LA to pursue a career in music, Beluga Heights owned the charts – to be a part of the story with Jason Derulo, and the Beluga Heights team, is an honor.”
After Beluga Heights became part of the Warner Music Group, Derulo released his debut single Whatcha Say in 2009. It sold over 5 million digital downloads, gaining an RIAA certification of triple Platinum, and reached No.1 in the U.S. and New Zealand.
Derulo’s international hits since then have included no less than five No.1s in the UK: In My Head, Don’t Wanna Go Home, Talk Dirty (feat 2 Chainz), Want To Want Me and Savage Love (Laxed – Siren Beat).
The latter track, by producer Jawsh 685 with a guest vocal from Derulo, was released on Columbia Records earlier this year.
In addition to its Los Angeles base, Cinq Music Group runs offices in New York, Orlando, Bogota, Medellin, Seoul, Minsk and Colombo.
The firm’s Grammy-winning repertoire includes heavyweights such as Bad Bunny, Janet Jackson, Daddy Yankee, T.I., Sean Kingston, Anuel, and hundreds more.Music Business Worldwide
