Peermusic acquires Norwegian publisher, Arctic Rights Management

25 October 2023 - Press release

 

peermusic, the world's largest global independent music publishing and neighbouring rights company with 39 offices in 32 countries and 200+ employees worldwide, has acquired Arctic Rights Management (ARM), the largest indie music publisher in Norway, as announced today by Ralph Peer, II, Executive Chair, peermusic and Mary Megan Peer, CEO, peermusic.  

The deal will give peermusic the publishing rights to Arctic Rights Management's 5,000+ recordings and compositions. The deal also encompasses a publishing interest in many international hits, including Dua Lipa's "Don't Start Now" (via Caroline Ailin) which garnered three nominations at the 63^rd Annual GRAMMY Awards in 2020 for Song of the Year, Record of the Year and Pop Solo Performance. The song won the American Music Award for Favorite Pop/Rock Song, was nominated for Best Song at the MTV Europe Music Awards and Best British Song and Best Song in the World at the NME Awards. Also included is Dua Lipa's "New Rules" (via Caroline Ailin) which was nominated for British Single of the Year at the Brit Awards and earned Dua Lipa her first #1 on UK Singles Chart and first top 10 entry on the Billboard Hot 100. The song broke the record for the most weeks on the US Mainstream Top 40 chart, went 2x Platinum in the UK, and was certified multi-Platinum in thirteen territories. The deal also encompasses "365" by Zedd and Katy Perry (via Caroline Ailin) which hit Top 20 on charts in thirteen territories.

Other hits included in the acquisition are Norwegian DJ Alan Walker's "Sing Me To Sleep" (via Magnus Bertelsen) which went 6X Platinum and hit #1 on the charts in Norway and landed Top 20 on US Hot Dance/Electronic songs; Madrugada's "Majesty," "Dreams At Midnight" and "Nobody Loves You Like I Do"; and "Girls" by Marcus & Martinus (via Magnus Bertelsen and Erik Fjeld), amongst many others.

Mary Megan Peer commented: "The acquisition of Arctic Rights Management is a unique opportunity to grow our market presence in Norway, adding the 32^nd operating country to our global footprint, and to enhance the value at a time when the music market in Norway is booming, supported by digital sales, early adoption of paid music streaming services, and live music festivals. Kai and Kerstin have built an impressive collection of local and international hits written by their songwriters and we look forward to building upon this success. We're fortunate that peermusic can draw upon the impressive local knowledge and experience of Kai and Kerstin and the team at Arctic Rights Management."

Arctic Rights Management was founded by music publishing pioneer Kai Robøle (previously founder and CEO of Waterfall Music). By enlisting the catalogues from several publishers as part of establishing Arctic Rights, the company became one of the largest indie music publishers in Norway.  Kerstin Mangert brings vast experience with Swedish and international rights management as the Chair of the Swedish Music Publishers Association and Second Vice Chairman on the Board of Directors at STIM, a Swedish collective management organization. Kai Robøle and Kerstin Mangert will now be joining the peermusic team as Creative Director, peermusic Arctic Rights Norway and as Managing Director, peermusic Arctic Rights Norway, respectively.

Nigel Elderton, Managing Director (UK) and European President, peermusic added: "The executive talent behind Arctic Rights Management brings both local expertise and impact internationally. We are thrilled to welcome Kai and Kerstin and their team to peermusic and I look forward to working closely with them to expand Arctic Rights across the region. I am also delighted that our Swedish MD Magnus Larkeryd and our local staff based in our Stockholm office will assist in integrating our companies as Arctic Rights works to represent peermusic repertoire throughout Norway, Finland, and Denmark."

Kai Robøle said: "peermusic is a first-class music publishing firm who leads with integrity. We are beyond thrilled to be able to leverage peermusic's global creative platform and to offer their best-in-class services to our clients. 

Ralph Peer, II, Executive Chair of peermusic noted: "The acquisition of Arctic Rights Management continues our tradition of investment in international repertoire and talented local executives whilc providing on the ground representation for all of our gobal music partners, now in 32 countries." 

In October 2020, peermusic announced the blockbuster acquisitions of Premier Muzik, All Right Music and Global Master Rights to form peermusic Neighbouring Rights, instantly vaulting the peermusic into the global independent leader in neighbouring rights encompassing over 300+ recording rights owners and 3000+ performers, including many internationally recognized artists such as Billie Eilish, David Guetta, Megan Thee Stallion, Metallica, Imagine Dragons and The Strokes, amongst others. In 2019, peermusic acquired Music Cube, the largest independent K-pop publisher in Korea, adding Korea to the company's global network, along with 40,000 Korean copyrights and works by K-pop groups BTS, EXO, and Monsta X. As a result of this focus on the region, Korea is now the third largest territory in the peermusic network in terms of revenue. In 2018, peermusic completed the acquisition of Accorder Music Publishing, one of the UK's largest independent media publishers with a roster of composers for such TV productions as Great British Bake Off, River Monsters, Michael McIntyre's Big Show, Hunted, Endeavour, How We Got To Now, The Great American Read, and Teletubbies.

peermusic was advised by Ketil Ramberg, Sveinung Mjaugedal, and Per Benonisen at DLA Piper Norway and was represented by its Chief Counsel, Tim Cohan. Artic Rights Management was advised by Richard Baskind and Alasdair George of Simons Muirhead Burton in the UK, and was represented by its Chair, David Miller. Financials of the deal were not disclosed.