Two months after reportedly acquiring Carlin Music America for around $250m, Round Hill Music has closed another significant deal.
New York-based Round Hill has acquired a stake in music supervision agency Zync Music in a multi-faceted agreement.
Zync Music, which runs offices in both LA and New York, is a music licensing and publishing company that specializes in music synchronization placements in film, advertising, television, trailers, sports, and video games.
Round Hill plans to keep Zync functioning as an independent entity – and feed it repertoire to license on to media partners.
In addition to the buyout, Round Hill and Zync have announced the launch of a JV publishing business to ‘support and expand Zync’s successful rights representation business’ – which will offer funds for developing and signing new publishing deals with emerging artists.
Since its beginning in 2002, Zync claims to have secured over 15,000 licenses and nearly $100 million for its artist clients. Its recent placements include the new Apple iPhone X campaign featuring Sofi Tukker (pictured), and the Google Pixel 2 campaign featuring Too Many Zooz.
Zync’s LA team is headed by sync & publishing veteran Marisa Baldi (formerly of Universal Music Publishing) who heads up the West Coast operations.
Zync founder Sanne Hagelsten (formerly of Ultra Records) heads up East Coast Operations in New York.
Combined they have over 45 years of experience in the music publishing and sync placement licensing business.
Under the new arrangement, Zync’s creative team will remain intact and work alongside Round Hill’s sync staff.
Baldi and Hagelsten will co-head the combined sync teams with offices in NY, LA, and Nashville.
“This collaboration means more opportunities to bring great music and amazing artists to our friends in the sync world.”
Sanne Hagelsten, Zync Music
Sanne Hagelsten, CEO, Zync said: “We cannot be more excited about Zync, Powered by Round Hill! We are so happy to find a partner who shares our passion for music and appreciates the importance of strategic synchronization.
“This collaboration means more opportunities to bring great music and amazing artists to our friends in the sync world. Round Hill’s funding guarantees financial resources for our creative team to continue developing and expanding an incredible roster. It also adds the benefit of Round Hill’s publishing and administration expertise.”
Marisa Baldi, CEO, Zync said: “We are extremely proud of the reputation we’ve established as curators of cutting edge music. Round Hill’s worldwide network of resources gives us the ability to dramatically grow our business, while maintaining what has made us successful – our boutique, hands-on, personalized service.
“As music fans, we feel this is such an incredible fit and auspicious time to join forces, as we now get to represent Round Hill’s ever-growing catalog of multi-genre classics and hits. We look forward to signing (and syncing) great music together, in a climate brimming with possibilities.”
Joshua Gruss, CEO, Round Hill Music, said: “The synergy between the Zync frontline and the Round Hill catalog is compelling. Zync has arguably the best synchronization in the business and Round Hill can further back up our claim that we excel in sync. We are thrilled to have Sanne and Marisa, and the entire Zync staff, join the Round Hill family.”
Zync’s roster includes Band of Skulls, The Heavy, Bassnectar, Sofi Tukker, ODESZA, Sleigh Bells, Alabama Shakes, Bones, Lucius, Vulfpeck, and many more.
Round Hill Music is a US-based private equity firm focused on both recorded and publishing music copyright assets.
It launched in 2011 and has since raised more than $200m.Music Business Worldwide
