Multimedia Music Raises $100+ Million to Acquire Film and TV Music Rights

10 February 2022 - Press release

Acquires Catalogue from Legendary Film Composer James Newton Howard Including Rights in Music from Films with Over $15 Billion of Box Office

 

Multimedia Music (“MMM”) has closed a major initial round of fundraising eclipsing $100 million from Metropolitan Partners Group and Pinnacle Bankto acquire catalogues of film and TV music rights from production companies, composers and other rights holders.  

The company has launched with an acquisition of the catalogue of all music income and copyrights from one of the greatest film composers of recent times, James Newton Howard, including the film and TV music scores for Fantastic Beasts, the Hunger Games Trilogy, The Dark Knight, Maleficent, Raya and the Last Dragon, Snow White and the Huntsman, King Kong, I Am Legend, Blood Diamond, Runaway Bride, ER, Emily In Paris and Pretty Woman.

Multimedia Music founder Phil Hope said, We are incredibly proud to have been chosen as the partner for this stellar acquisition from one of the true creative heavyweights of the industry. Our thanks go to James and his team for trusting us to deliver the deal in record quick time and we are honoured to be the new custodian of such an amazing Catalog.”

James Newton Howard’s long time agent Sam Schwartz of the Gorfaine Schwartz Agency added “I am so pleased we found a solid and classy home in MMM for James’ legendary body of work.  Phil Hope embodies what it means to honor a handshake, and is a sharp businessman whose word is his bond.” 

James Newton Howard is one of the film and television industry’s most versatile and honoured composers, with a career spanning over thirty years and encompassing more than 140 film and television projects. He is a 9-time Oscar® nominee, and Emmy® and Grammy® winner. Howard has also been honoured with ASCAP’s prestigious Henry Mancini Award for Lifetime Achievement and the BMI ICON Award. 

As a record producer, arranger, and songwriter, he has collaborated with some of pop’s biggest names including Elton John; Crosby, Stills & Nash; Barbra Streisand; Earth, Wind and Fire; Bob Seger; Rod Stewart; Toto; Glenn Frey; Diana Ross; Carly Simon; Olivia Newton-John and Randy Newman. 

He has scored films including Raya and The Last Dragon, Jungle Cruise, News of the World, A Hidden Life, Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald, The Nutcracker and the Four Realms, Red Sparrow, Roman J. Israel, Esq., Detroit, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, all four instalments of The Hunger Games franchise, Concussion, Nightcrawler and Maleficent, Snow White and The Huntsman, The Bourne Legacy, Salt, Water For Elephants, Batman Begins, Collateral, Snow Falling on Cedars, Outbreak, The Village, Hidalgo, Peter Pan, Wyatt Earp, Lady in the Water, The Sixth Sense, Unbreakable, Freedomland, Dinosaur, Treasure Planet, Signs, Falling Down, Primal Fear, Glengarry Glen Ross, Waterworld, The Devil’s Advocate, Dave and Pretty Woman among many others. He has also scored music for numerous television shows, including the smash hit ER. 

In addition to his contributions to film and television music, Howard has written a number of concert works: “I Would Plant a Tree” and “Concerto for Violin and Orchestra,” for the Pacific Symphony, “133 . . . At Least” For 27 Pieces: The Hilary Hahn Encores, “they have just arrived at this new level” for the Seattle Chamber Music Society and “Concerto for Cello and Orchestra” for the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra 

James Newton Howard was represented for the catalogue sale by Dave Kaplan/Surfdog, along with long time agents Sam Schwartz and Mike Gorfaine.  Business management duties were handled by Todd Gelfand/Gelfand, Rennert, Feldman and legal representation by Jay Cooper/Jeff Biederman at Greenberg Traurig.  Multimedia Music was represented on the James Newton Howard deal by DLA Piper : Scott Bradford (now at Selverne Kelly Bradford) and Rob Sherman.

Multimedia Music 
Led by industry veterans Phil Hope and James Gibb in partnership with Atlantic Screen Music, Multimedia Music (MMM) focuses on acquiring and managing copyrights and income streams from the music featured in internationally successful film and TV productions. The company’s executive and advisory team includes Lord Michael Grade, Simon Fawcett, Rupert Hollier and Robbert Aarts.  

MMM was represented for the financing transaction by Brian Richards and Eric Scalone at Artisan and a US and UK team led by Rob Sherman at DLA Piper.  

 

About the Multimedia Music team:

• Phil Hope – Founder and CEO: 25+ Years experience in  music publishing, including 12+ years in Film and TV Music as group MD of leading music for media business Cutting Edge Music. Former VP UK & Europe for Edel Publishing and MD of independent Anxious Music. Deep experience in the acquisition, management and exploitation of music rights and the growth of independent music businesses. Former director of the Music Publishers Association and member of PRS Commercial Affairs Group.

• James Gibb - 25+ Years in Media and Music as spearhead of Cutting Edge's  US business. Sourced over 300 music publishing deals in the Film and TV industry through his deep relationships with US, Canadian and UK producers, film financiers, media production companies, US studios and major music asset owners 

• Simon Fawcett - 25+ Years in Film and Music. Established and managed Atlantic Screen Group, a music publishing and production company which invested in over 100 film scores. Advised a $250M+ fund specializing in entertainment loan finance, financed over 30 films, and providing debt funding to 4 Hollywood studio slate funding structures. Former CFO of Pathé Entertainment 

• Rupert Hollier - 25+ Years in Media and Music. Leading the value creation for acquired catalogs as Creative Director at Atlantic Screen. Co-founder and Senior Board member of The UK & European Guild of Music Supervisors. Represented the Rodgers & Hammerstein and Boosey & Hawkes catalogs for exploitation. Music supervisor on over 60 films and TV series.

• Lord Michael Grade - 40+ Years in Media and Entertainment including as Chairman of both the BBC and ITV, CEO of Channel 4 Television and Chairman of Pinewood and Shepperton Film Studios. Holds a seat on the advisory board of several international media companies. In 2011 Mr. Grade became the Conservative Peer, Lord Grade of Yarmouth.

• Robbert Aarts: 25+ Years in Media + Entertainment as Co-Owner and Co-CEO of Fintage House, a leader in maximizing, securing and distributing Film and TV revenues for 1000s of film productions and TV series from multiple worldwide sources. Co-founder of CASHét Card LLC the market leader in offering payment solutions to film and television productions.