Sennheiser MD 421 Kompakt—A Combine Actual-World Overview

Sennheiser MD 421 Kompakt—A Combine Actual-World Overview


MIX VERDICT: SENNHEISER MD 421 KOMPAKT MICROPHONE
THE TAKEAWAY: “Sennheiser has produced a revision that improves upon the unique with out compromising its sonic signature.”
COMPANY: Sennheiser • www.Sennheiser.com
PRICE: $299, together with MZH drum clamp; $279 w/o drum clamp
PROS:
• Glorious sound.
• Diminished dimension facilitates placement in tight areas.
• Handles excessive SPL.
• No extra slide-on clip!
CONS:
• No switches or contour controls.

The Sennheiser MD 421 is one in every of a handful of microphones that has rightfully earned iconic standing, having maintained a steady presence within the audio trade because it was launched in 1960. Whereas it was initially developed to be used on vocals in tv, radio and public handle functions, studio engineers had different plans, placing the microphone in place for capturing drums (kick and toms particularly), bass amp, horns and guitar amplifiers.

The MD 421 Collection II debuted in 1998 and located its place in quite a lot of functions, however engineers have lengthy expressed two main gripes in regards to the design. First, the physique is somewhat massive, making it tough to position in tight quarters (corresponding to staying out of the way in which of cymbals when miking toms); and second, there’s that pesky slide-on clip that, irrespective of the way you deal with the microphone, inevitably unlatches from the mic whenever you try to pivot the physique, typically sending it crashing down on an unsuspecting tom or, worse, to the ground.

Then, in late 2024, Sennheiser launched the MD 421 Kompakt, which cures each of those points in a single superb revision, swapping out the slide-in clip for a captive mount whereas lowering the dimensions of the physique by nearly 40 %. The MD 421-II measures 8.4 inches (215 mm) lengthy, whereas the MD 421 Kompakt measures 4.8 inches (122 mm) in size.

The MD 421 Kompakt ships with a padded drawstring bag; the “+ Drum Clamp” model additionally consists of the MZH drum clamp for mounting the mic onto the rim of a drum.

A LOOK INSIDE/OUTSIDE

The MD 421 Kompakt options the identical moving-coil cardioid capsule used within the MD 421-II, with sensitivity of 2mV/Pa and frequency response said as 30 Hz to 17 kHz. Skilled engineers will discover that the MD 421 Kompakt lacks the high-pass filter change that surrounds the XLR connector of the MD 421-II, however one may argue that the HPF is superfluous lately when most mic preamps and DAWs present their very own. The frequency response plot for the 421 Kompakt seems an identical to that of the MD 421-II when the latter’s high-pass filter is ready to the “M” place. The polar response patterns additionally look like an identical.

At first look, the 421 Kompakt appears to easily be a cut-off MD 421-II, however the head grille of the Kompakt is barely smaller than that of the 421-II. This discount in dimension, mixed with the captive stand mount, makes the Kompakt a lot simpler to position whereas offering an efficient answer for mounting the mic onto a drum. Whereas the MZH doesn’t present a myriad of placement choices, it will get the mic within the spot the place you’d in all probability need it anyway: poking over the rim of the drum, an inch or two off the pinnacle. You may again it off from there if desired.

The MZH securely held place with out undesirable motion and simply match a lot of the drum rims I attempted—although there have been one or two cases the place an unusually thick rim made it tough to snap the MZH into place. The MZH can even clamp to a microphone stand, however the effectiveness of this method would require the diameter of the stand to be simply the proper dimension for the clip.

STARTING WITH DRUMS

I used the MD 421 Kompakt on all kinds of sources, together with kick, snare, toms, acoustic guitar, electrical guitar, vocal and voiceover, at instances A/B’ing the Kompakt with an MD 421-II. As I anticipated, the 421 Kompakt excelled on toms, producing thunderous sound from flooring toms, and rack toms that virtually exploded.

The highest finish has sufficient assault to assist poke by a mixture, however doesn’t get pointy or too snappy-sounding, and the underside finish was full and spherical. I didn’t really feel the necessity to add a lot, if any, EQ to attain a “completed” tom sound. In comparison with the MD 421-II on toms, the Kompakt has extra mojo within the decrease midrange and produces a extra rounded sound, whereas the unique is barely extra ahead within the higher mids. I felt that the 421 Kompakt had the sting within the backside finish and produced a fuller sound, particularly obvious on flooring tom.

UA Woodrow ’55 Instrument Amplifier—A Combine Actual-World Overview

Leakage from cymbals was very well-controlled. Experience cymbal leaking into the ground tom mic was down higher than 20 dB, and I couldn’t hear a lot leakage within the rack tom mic from a close-by crash cymbal. Sennheiser actually nailed the voicing for the 421 Kompakt on toms: in case your toms don’t sound good below the MD 421 Kompakt don’t blame the microphone.

Kick drum was up subsequent, and also you’re both going to like the sound of those microphones on kick or hate it. I by no means a lot cared for the sound of the unique MD 421 (or -II) on kick, and the Kompakt isn’t altering my thoughts. They each sound too Nineteen Seventies for my style—an excessive amount of within the midrange round 400 to 500 Hz (the Kompakt considerably much less so), not as a lot snap as I’d like within the prime finish, and a bit of little bit of that “speaker cone breakup” sound. The MD 421-II had a bit extra within the backside finish, however the two microphones sounded very shut on this utility.

Snare drum was one of many sources the place it was simple to listen to a distinction between the 2 mics, with the Kompakt sounding darker, nearly rolled off within the highs in comparison with the MD 421- II. This was a little bit of a head-game. Does the 421 Kompakt produce extra low-mids or does the unique 421-II produce extra prime finish? Robust to say, however the audible variations had been clear on this occasion.

VOCALS AND GUITAR

When used on vocals and voiceover, the 421 Kompakt produced a delicate proximity impact inside 4 to 5 inches from the supply. Transferring the mic past that distance delivered a really clear and pure sound, proving why Sennheiser engineers designed this mic for voice replica within the first place. The MD 421 Kompakt has a number of the presence and air that you just’d count on from a condenser mic with out being overly vivid, and appears a bit smoother within the upper-midrange when in comparison with the MD 421-II.

On a lead vocal for a rock observe, the Kompakt did a pleasant job of capturing the growl from the singer and simply dealt with the SPL when the singer screamed, which was fairly a bit. Popping P’s and B’s could be a problem when a singer will get inside just a few inches of the mic, so I’d counsel utilizing an exterior pop filter.

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Recording an acoustic guitar utilizing the MD 421 Kompakt was a nice shock. I usually attain for small-or large-diaphragm condenser mics for this utility, however the Kompakt captured a very good steadiness between the resonance of the guitar physique and the strumming of the decide on the strings. I positioned it in my go-to location: aimed on the space the place the neck of the guitar meets the physique, about 10 inches away and pointing barely towards the sound gap. Compared, the 421-II produced extra “honk” within the midrange, however a few of that may very well be as a result of positioning, as it may be robust to concurrently place two massive microphones within the optimum place.

I additionally tried the 421 Kompakt on electrical guitar, the place it captured quite a lot of element (there’s that phrase once more) however didn’t sound harsh. In comparison with the MD 421-II, the Kompakt is a bit more open within the upper-mids round 3 kHz; and including just a few dB of EQ on this space to the 421-II made the microphones sound nearly an identical.

COMPARE AND CONTRAST

When evaluating the mics head-to-head, recorded ranges had been nearly an identical for a similar preamp achieve settings (Focusrite ISA 828 Mk II, Nice River MP-2NV, and Grace 201), and off-axis rejection was about the identical for each mics. Using the identical capsule within the MD 421 Kompakt because the one used within the MD 421-II was a sensible transfer on the a part of Sennheiser—no must reinvent the wheel right here.

There are two views from which to guage the MD 421 Kompakt: by itself advantage as an efficient dynamic instrument microphone, and within the inevitable comparability to the unique MD 421-II. Sennheiser succeeds on each fronts.

The MD 421 Kompakt is simpler to position than the MD 421-II, it eliminates the problematic microphone clip discovered on the unique, and gives a safe answer for mounting the mic on the rim of a tom. The MD 421 Kompakt sounds nearly an identical to the MD 421-II on most sources, and the sonic variations I heard may very well be as a result of the truth that we’re evaluating new MD 421 Kompakts to MD 421-IIs which have appreciable mileage on them and will have modified over time.

As is the case with the MD 421-II, I count on that the MD 421 Kompakt will turn out to be a go-to microphone for toms. In a uncommon occasion of newer being higher, Sennheiser has produced a revision that improves upon the unique with out compromising its sonic signature. Purchase a three-pack; you received’t remorse it.

8 Finest Musical Moments from Strauss’ Der Rosenkavalier

8 Finest Musical Moments from Strauss’ Der Rosenkavalier


How would you prefer to be a part of a wonderful trip via the glittering world of Der Rosenkavalier? It’s Richard Strauss’ opulent opera that’s principally a Viennese pasty of romance, wit, and loads of wigs!

Richard Strauss’s Der Rosenkavalier, MET manufacturing

This 1911 masterpiece, with a libretto by Hugo von Hofmannsthal, is a love letter to like itself. We’ve received love triangles, aristocratic hiccups, and loads of decadent melodies. Did I point out tangled hearts and sufficient aristocrats to fill a ballroom?

Waltzing via Rosenkavalier

So what’s all of it about? It options the glamorous Marschallin, a noblewoman recognized for stealing hearts and offering loads of melancholy. She will get caught in a steamy fling with Octavian, a teenage heartthrob, till Baron Ochs, a sleazy noble in a dreadful midlife disaster, crashes the get together.

To keep away from a scandal, Octavian is compelled to placed on a maid’s uniform and sweep the flooring as “Mariandel.” Ochs is severely dim, as he tries to woo Mariandel whereas plotting to marry Sophie, a teenage magnificence with loads of wealth, who’s immediately smitten with Octavian.

Octavian famously delivers a shiny silver to Sophie, leading to a chaotic tavern fest the place Octavian humiliates Ochs with pretend lovers and ghostly antics. This enables the Marschallin to gracefully bow out, and the younger lovers swoon right into a happily-ever-after.

Let’s dish out the 8 greatest musical numbers from this opulent rating, arias, duets, and ensembles filled with humour, heartache, and pure Strauss magic.

Opening Prelude

Richard Strauss’s Der Rosenkavalier – Prelude Act 1 music rating

Some folks name the opening prelude “an orchestral intercourse scene with a whooping horn.” To make certain, it appears like a bucket of Viennese whipped cream spiked with pure and cheeky ardour.

This sassy and steamy musical opener lets you recognize that the Marschallin and Octavian simply had a really, superb evening. It’s all swaggering horns and swoony strings, like lovers tumbling over one another in mattress.

Strauss cranks up the warmth with a playful and pulsing rhythm, like a heartbeat on overdrive. That little woodwind flourish is deliciously indiscreet, and it units the stage for the opera’s mixture of romance and mischief. Satin sheets are rustling!

Strauss: Rosenkavalier, Prelude Act 1

“As you had been, my love”

“Wie du warst,” or roughly translated “As you had been, my love,” from Act 1 is a bubbly and heart-melting love fest that’s like a musical macaron; all candy, vibrant, and sooooo scrumptious. It’s our glamorous main woman, the Marschallin, lounging in her boudoir and gazing at her younger lover Octavian.

It’s primarily an aria for Octavian, our smitten teenager. Strauss offers Octavian a lush and ardent melody to gush over his love for the Marschallin, praising her magnificence and appeal and different issues as effectively. Hovering strings and pulsing orchestration, that’s a musical love letter stuffed with youthful power.

The Marschallin, ever poised and barely wistful, doesn’t absolutely take part till later when the voices briefly intertwin in a duet-like alternate. Octavian tells her, “I’m so in love!” with the Marschallin saying one thing like “Oh, sweetie, you might be so lovable.”

Strauss: Rosenkavalier, “Wie du warst” (Act 1)

“Quinquin, it’s my husband!”

Richard Strauss, 1910

There may be loads of musical slapstick in Rosenkavalier, and the scary phrases “Quinquin, it’s my husband,” are uttered by the Marschallin. She is lounging in her boudoir, all post-romance glow along with her hunky younger lover Octavion, when she hears a commotion.

She assumes it’s her husband, and the music explodes right into a bouncy frenzy with all people scampering like a cat on a sizzling tin roof. Octavion is in a panic, and he disguises himself because the maid “Mariandel.” The road “Quinquin, it’s my husband” is delivered with a mixture of flustered appeal and “oh-my-god” power.

It’s pure comedic chaos, and Strauss cranks the hilarity with zippy, mischievous notes that make you wish to giggle and cross the popcorn. This second is the Marschallin and Octavian at their most delightfully unhinged, dodging scandal with all of the grace of a caffeinated squirrel.

Strauss: Rosenkavalier “Quinquin, es it mein Mann!” (Act 1) (Ann Murray, mezzo-soprano; Anna Tomowa-Sintow, soprano; Alan Opie, baritone; John Dobson, tenor; Royal Opera Home Orchestra, Covent Backyard; Andrew Davis, cond.)

“There he goes”

Richard Strauss’s Der Rosenkavalier – Octavian

Our stylish and soulful Marschallin serves up a monologue in “there he goes.” It’s like a bittersweet macchiato in musical kind, frothy and only a bit excessive within the heart-tugging division.

As she watches her younger lover Octavian strut out the door, Strauss unleashes a shimmering cascade of string and mushy woodwinds. The Marschallin muses on time, ageing, and the fleeting nature of her steamy fling.

Her voice glides via poignant and velvet melodies, one thing between “I’m a wonderful queen,” and “I want a spa day and cry.” The orchestra sighs along with her, tossing in some delicate and twinkly notes. Mainly, it’s the Marschallin stealing your coronary heart.

Strauss: Rosenkavalier: “Da geht er hin”

Presentation of the Rose

The presentation of the silver rose, to the phrases “Mir ist die Ehre” from Act II is among the most well-known scenes in all of opera. Dashing younger Octavian, trying like a shining prince, delivers a silver rose to Sophie, the wide-eyed magnificence.

The rose is definitely from the sleazy Baron Ochs, and the Strauss opera goes all fairy-tale mode. The celesta twinkles, and the shimmering strings sound like somebody is sprinkling pixie mud over the rating.

However right here is the shock, as Octavian and Sophie lock eyes, it’s love at first sight, and their voices dance in pure and giddy enchantment. There may be nothing like falling in love whereas a chandelier sparkles overhead. Octavian and Sophie are serving up some chemistry for certain.

Strauss: Rosenkavalier: Mir ist die Ehre wiederfahren (Act 2)

“There I’m”

Richard Strauss’s Der Rosenkavalier – Marschallin

Let’s take a break from starry-eyed lovers for some time and take a look at Baron Ochs, a lecherous and gloriously sleazy oaf. Strauss was decided that he shouldn’t be portrayed as a rustic bumpkin, however he offers him a lot stunning music, together with “There I’m” from the tip of Act 2.

In that scene, which is sort of a musical beer stomach bouncing to the beat, Ochs is all overvalued with self-important swagger, gloating about his appeal and his upcoming marriage to Sophie. So Strauss offers him a lopsided waltz tune, with the orchestra romping together with brassy thrives and cheeky rhythms.

Ochs is fantasising about his wedding ceremony evening, and the music’s playful pomp is totally over-the-top. It’s a hilarious, toe-tapping second that claims all about Ochs: massive ego, greater errors, and a tune that’s pure Viennese irony.

Strauss: Rosenkavalier: “Da lieg ich” (Act 2)

“I’ve promised myself”

It’s been known as probably the most stunning of soprano trios in all of opera, and that opinion isn’t far off. The Marshallin, referred all through because the empress Marie Therese, stuts into the scene like a Viennese goddess, dropping knowledge and heartbreak in a wonderful bundle.

Strauss unleashes a torrent of lush and intertwining melodies, because the Marshallin selflessly arms over her younger lover, Octavian, to Sophie. Sophie’s voice sparkles like a chandelier, whereas Octavian’s mezzo weaves between them, all torn up.

The orchestra swirls with shimmery strings and tender woodwinds, like a musical hug that makes everybody cry and smile on the identical time. This trio is so divine, it’s like sipping champagne with the Marshallin stealing the present along with her stylish sacrifice.

Strauss: Rosenkavalier, “Hab’ mir’s gelobt” (Act 3)

“It’s a Dream”

Richard Strauss’s Der Rosenkavalier, the Royal Opera manufacturing

And right here comes the fizzy and heart-fluttering closing duet “Ist ein Traum,” a musical cupcake topped with Viennese romance. Sophie and Octavian are lastly free to be collectively after outsmarting the sleazy Baron Ochs.

And Strauss serves up a melody so candy it may provide you with a sugar rush. The orchestra sparkles with delicate strings and glowing woodwinds, and the celeste continues to sprinkle fairy mud.

It’s the duet that asks “pinch me, is that this actual?” and the love birds are principally singing their wedding ceremony vows whereas skipping via a meadow. The lyrics are gushing about love being a dream too excellent to imagine. This second is pure and bubbly bliss, wrapping up the opera with a happily-ever-after so pleasant, you’ll be singing that tune for days!

Wigs, Waltzes, and Viennese Vibes

And there you will have it, the eight juiciest and most toe-tapping tunes from Strauss’ Rosenkavalier. It’s like a tray of Viennese pastries, every one bursting with fizzy melodies and witty appeal.

Whether or not it’s the Marschallin’s stylish shade, Octavian’s drag-queen antics, or Sophie’s starry-eyed sparkle, these tunes are a musical rollercoaster that’ll go away you buzzing, laughing, and possibly even dabbing a tear.

It’s a scrumptious world of wigs, waltzes, and wickedly good romantic enjoyable—your excellent introduction to a Viennese musical get together!

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Strauss: Rosenkavalier: “Ist ein Traum,” (Act 3)

The Funding Giants – Music Enterprise Analysis

The Funding Giants – Music Enterprise Analysis


Partially 1 of the collection, we traced the music rights gross sales increase since 2019. On this half, we are going to take a more in-depth take a look at the businesses that present the monetary assets to amass music rights catalogues. These are a number of the largest corporations within the worldwide monetary trade. They embody BlackRock, Blackstone, KKR, The Carlyle Group, Brookfield Asset Administration and Apollo World Administration. These corporations handle billions, and even trillions, of US {dollars} of belongings beneath administration (AUM) in investor capital. These are primarily personal fairness companies whose enterprise mannequin entails figuring out undervalued belongings, buying them through the use of a mixture of fairness and debt capital, after which promoting them at an elevated goal worth to generate returns for his or her buyers. Their income mannequin relies on varied charges they obtain for his or her administration companies. This second a part of the ‘Observe the Cash!’ collection presents an important of those monetary and funding giants.

Observe the Cash! Massive Capital within the Music Rights Market –   Half 2: The Funding Giants

BlackRock Inc. is the biggest monetary and funding conglomerate on this planet, with 19,800 workers in over 30 nations and managing US $10 trillion in belongings by the top of 2023.[1] It was based in March 1988 as Blackstone Monetary Administration by Larry Fink and different former managers of US funding financial institution First Boston, with monetary help from Blackstone, which initially held a 50 per cent stake.[2] In 1994, Blackstone bought its stake, and the corporate was renamed BlackRock Monetary Administration.[3] BlackRock went public in 1999, managing US $141 billion in belongings.[4]

BlackRock is concerned within the music IP market by means of two funding automobiles: BlackRock Various Traders (BAI) and Affect Media Companions, a three way partnership with Warner Music Group. BAI partnered with Main Wave in 2016 to speculate US $300 million in Main Wave’s IP Fund 1, buying shares of Smokey Robinson’s music catalogue.[5] BAI was shaped when BlackRock purchased Quellos Group’s fund-of-funds enterprise for US $1.7 billion in 2007. Hedge funds, like BAI, use high-risk methods to outperform market returns. Fund-of-funds diversify investments to scale back danger for conservative buyers, although they arrive with larger administration charges.[6] In 2022, Brookfield Asset Administration purchased out BAI, investing US $1.7 billion in Main Wave and buying US $700 million price of rights from Main Wave’s IP Fund 1 and a pair of.[7] Affect Media Companions, based by Lylette Pizarro in 2019, partnered with Warner Music Group in 2022 to create a music IP fund. BlackRock invested US $750 million within the firm to amass music catalogues from artists like Dangerous Bunny, Bruno Mars, and Enrique Iglesias.[8] In December 2024, HPS Funding Companions, with US $148 billion in belongings, grew to become a part of BlackRock. HPS invested US $1 billion in Iconic Artist Group, buying Rod Stewart’s music catalogue for US $100 million.[9] BlackRock, due to this fact, has direct investments within the music rights market with HPS Funding Companions and is not directly concerned with Affect Media Companions. However, BlackRock’s engagement within the music IRP market stays very restricted and seems to be solely a marginal a part of the group.

Blackstone Group

Blackstone is among the oldest personal fairness corporations, based in 1985 by former Lehman Brothers executives Peter Peterson and Stephen Schwarzman in New York Metropolis. The title “Blackstone” comes from the founders’ names: “Schwarz” means black in German, and “Peter” (from “petros”) means rock or stone in Greek.[10] Initially, Blackstone’s enterprise mannequin was to purchase poorly run public corporations, delist them, enhance their worth, and promote them at a revenue. This mannequin is typical for personal fairness corporations, and Blackstone was a pioneer on this discipline. After a non-public fairness increase within the Nineteen Eighties, the marketplace for leveraged buyouts cooled within the Nineties however recovered within the early 2000s. Blackstone was a number one participant throughout this era, collaborating in vital acquisitions resembling Houghton Mifflin Firm[11] and music shopping for membership Columbia Home in 2002.[12]. In 2007, Blackstone acquired Hilton Resorts for US $26 billion[13] and went public shortly earlier than the subprime mortgage disaster.[14] Regardless of the disaster, Blackstone emerged comparatively unscathed and continued to be a key participant in personal fairness acquisitions within the 2010s and 2020s. Over time, Blackstone reworked from a pure personal fairness firm to another funding administration conglomerate. By 2023, it reported 4 enterprise segments: Actual Property, Non-public Fairness, Credit score & Insurance coverage, and Hedge Fund Options. The Actual Property section was the biggest, adopted by Credit score & Insurance coverage, Non-public Fairness, and Hedge Fund Options.[15] Blackstone’s principal income sources are administration and advisory charges, together with realized funding earnings.

Blackstone’s preliminary foray into the music rights market started with the acquisition of the non-profit US-collecting society, Society of European Stage Authors and Composers (SESAC), for a rumoured US $1 billion in January 2017.[16] This acquisition was made by Blackstone’s Core Fairness Companions (BCEP I), which manages US $4.76 billion in belongings. BCEP I is a long-term personal fairness fund with a concentrate on investments exceeding ten years.[17] In addition to SESAC, BCEP I has made sixteen different investments, together with the acquisition of Japanese actual property firm GE Capital in 2020[18] and the producer of promoting supplies, HH World, in 2019.[19] The restricted companions of BCEP I are primarily retirement and pension funds within the US, Canada and Finland.[20]

Hipgnosis Songs Capital and Hipgnosis Music Administration Ltd. are managed by Blackstone Tactical Alternatives Advisors (BTOA), which manages a number of funds, together with the Blackstone Tactical Alternatives Funds I-IV.[21] The Tactical Alternatives Fund I (Tac Opps I), which administers the Hipgnosis belongings, was launched in 2012 with US $5.6 billion to put money into personal funding alternatives outdoors of conventional personal fairness.[22] Tac Opps I has buyers as restricted companions, primarily retirement funds such because the New York State Retirement Fund and the Allegheny County Retirement System.[23] Different investments of Tac Opps I embody L’Occitane Worldwide, Sustana Fiber, and SUNZ Insurance coverage.[24]

Blackstone can be a 9 per cent shareholder of New Mountain Capital, which led a consortium to purchase the US accumulating society Broadcast Music Integrated (BMI) for a rumoured US $1.3 billion in November 2023.[25] New Mountain Capital focuses on small and mid-sized corporations in monetary hassle, utilizing a modest quantity of debt to restructure and later promote them.[26] New Mountain Capital manages US $29.1 billion in belongings from pooled funding automobiles with retirement and pension funds as restricted companions.[27]

Apollo World Administration

Apollo Advisors was based by 4 former executives of Drexel Burnham Lambert after its chapter in 1990, elevating US $400 million for a non-public fairness fund specialising in distressed securities.[28] In 1993, Apollo entered the actual property market with the Apollo Actual Property Funding Fund.[29] Between 1995 and 2001, Apollo established three extra personal fairness funds with a complete of US $8.8 billion in investor commitments.[30] Earlier than the 2008 monetary disaster, Apollo benefited from the personal fairness market increase, buying a number of corporations in multi-billion-dollar offers resembling Momentive Efficiency Supplies for US $3.8 billion and the Dutch mail and parcel service PostNL for US $1.9 billion in 2006 in addition to Noranda Aluminium for US $1.15 billion[31]. In 2007, Abu Dhabi Funding Authority purchased a 9 per cent stake in Apollo,[32] foreshadowing a deliberate IPO in 2008, which finally failed because of the worldwide monetary disaster. The IPO was postponed to 2011, when Apollo World Administration raised US $565.4 million on the New York Inventory Change.[33] This led to new investments in media and cultural industries, such because the acquisition of McGraw-Hill’s training unit[34] and the merger of Apollo’s Endemol tv studios with 21st Century Fox’s Shine Group to type Endemol Shine Group. [35] From the 2010s onwards, Apollo continued to amass corporations in multi-billion-dollar offers, together with Verizon Media Group with Yahoo![36] and insurance coverage big Athene.[37]

Apollo World Administration’s involvement within the music rights market, although modest in comparison with multi-billion-dollar offers, is important. In October 2021, Apollo offered US $1 billion to HarbourView Fairness Companions, based by Sherrese Clarke Soares, to amass grasp and publishing rights.[38] HarbourView has since spent at the least US $500 million on music rights, with its credit score line elevated to US $300 million in December 2023.[39] Apollo additionally partnered with Harmony Bicycle Music Group in 2022 to subject US $1.8 billion in asset-backed securities and supported Harmony’s unsuccessful bid for the Hipgnosis Songs Fund.[40] Most lately, Apollo co-invested US $700 million within the music catalogue of the British rock band Queen, which Sony Music bought for $1.27 billion in June 2024.[41]

Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. (KKR)

KKR, based in 1976 by Jerome Kohlberg Jr., Henry Kravis, and George Roberts, is a outstanding personal fairness agency identified for pioneering leveraged buyout offers. It gained fame with its US $31.3 billion takeover of RJR Nabisco in 1988, a deal detailed within the e book “Barbarians on the Gate.”[42] All through the Nineteen Eighties and Nineties, KKR led the personal fairness market with vital acquisitions, together with Beatrice Firms, the proprietor of Samsonite, and the US $5.5 billion buyout of Safeway.[43]. Regardless of a slowdown within the early Nineties, KKR re-entered the market with a US $5 billion fund in 1996, resulting in additional buyouts like Amphenol Company[44] and Wincor Nixdorf.[45] Within the 2000s, KKR continued its success with main transactions resembling Toys “R” Us[46] and SunGard,[47] and its largest pre-crisis deal, the US $44.4 billion buyout of Texas-based electrical energy retailer TXU.[48] After the 2008 monetary disaster, KKR resumed its actions and expanded into actual property with the acquisition of Yorktown Heart in 2012, establishing a brand new enterprise section.[49]

Within the 2010s, KKR began to put money into the media and cultural industries. In 2019, KKR acquired three tv and movie manufacturing corporations in Germany[50] – Tele München Gruppe, Universum Movie GmbH and Wiedemann & Berg Movie Manufacturing – and a 43.54 per cent stake within the German media conglomerate Axel Springer AG for US $3.2 billion.[51] But additionally outdoors Germany, KKR was within the cultural industries and acquired one of many world’s largest e book publishers, Simon S. Schuster, for US $1.6 billion in 2023.[52]

KKR started its engagement within the music sector in 2009 with a three way partnership with Bertelsmann AG to create BMG Rights Administration, through which KKR invested EUR 250 million in return for a 51 per share.[53] Over time, BMG acquired quite a few music publishers and report labels. Nonetheless, KKR withdrew from the three way partnership in March 2013, and Bertelsmann AG acquired KKR’s stake for EUR 300 million.[54] In January 2021, KKR purchased a majority stake within the music catalogue of Ryan Tedder, the frontman of OneRepublic, for US $200 million. This deal included Tedder’s songs written for different artists after January 1, 2016, and the songs he has written and carried out for OneRepublic.[55] KKR made this funding by means of Chord Music Companions, a three way partnership with Dundee Companions, utilizing capital from KKR’s Dislocation Alternatives Fund. KKR’s Dislocation Alternatives Fund is a distressed debt fund,[56] based in 2019, with US $2.97 billion AUM. The Dislocation Alternatives Fund has 10 restricted companions[57] primarily foundations, charitable organizations and insurance coverage corporations. In October 2021, Chord Music Companions and the Dislocation Alternatives Fund purchased the KMR Music Royalties II portfolio from Swedish music writer Kobalt, which contained 62,000 music copyrights, for US $1.1 billion.[58] Shortly after, KKR partnered with BMG once more in March 2021 to collectively purchase music rights, with every get together committing US $500 million for acquisitions.[59] In February 2024, KKR bought its majority stake in Chord Music to Common Group, which holds now a 25.8 per cent stake and Dundee Companions proudly owning the remainder of 74.2 per cent.[60]

The Carlyle Group

The Carlyle Group is a worldwide funding firm managing belongings price US $426 billion.[61] Based by 5 companions in New York Metropolis, it initially centered on leveraged buyouts within the protection trade.[62] Regardless of the dot-com bubble burst in 2000, Carlyle continued its buyout initiatives, buying corporations like Dex Media[63] and The Hertz Company.[64] The 2008 monetary disaster led Carlyle to diversify into credit score options and different asset administration. Notable acquisitions embody Italian clothes firm Dainese, cyber safety agency ManTech Worldwide, and a 50 per cent stake in US clothes model Supreme.[65] Carlyle went public in 2012, elevating US $671 million.[66]

In 2022, Carlyle’s World Credit score platform partnered with music trade consultants to ascertain Litmus Music, an funding automobile for music rights. The Credit score Alternatives Fund II (CCOF II), which has deployed US $2.2 billion in media and leisure corporations, offered US $500 million for the acquisition of Keith City’s recording catalogue in 2022 by means of Litmus.[67] The CCOF II was established in 2020 as a classic personal fairness debt fund with US $4.6 billion AUM. It invests within the films, music and leisure, software program, and monetary service sectors. The fund has 13 restricted companions, primarily insurance coverage corporations and retirement plans such because the Allstate Insurance coverage Firm from Illinois and the I.A.M. Nationwide Pension Fund from Washington D.C.[68] In 2023, the CCOF II and Litmus purchased compositions from Benny Blanco, who wrote hits for Rihanna, The Weeknd, Justin Bieber, Arianna Grande and Maroon 5[69] in addition to the grasp royalty earnings stream and publishing rights to Katy Perry’s albums launched between 2008 and 2020.[70] In 2024, Carlyle elevated the credit score facility for Litmus by US $400 million to amass Opus Music Group, which owns rights to music catalogues from Juice WRLD, Ozuna, Maluma, and Rauw Alejandro,[71] and to purchase a share of Randy Newman’s music publishing and recording catalogue.[72]

Brookfield Company and Oaktree Capital Administration

Brookfield Asset Administration, now generally known as Brookfield Company, is among the world’s largest different funding corporations, based mostly in Toronto, Canada. Based in 1899, it has advanced considerably through the years. Initially offering electrical energy and transport infrastructure in Brazil, it was later acquired by Edper Investments and renamed Brascan Ltd.[73] In 2005, it grew to become Brookfield Asset Administration Inc., specializing in Brazilian infrastructure initiatives.[74] By 2018, it had diversified into varied sectors, together with infrastructure, renewable vitality, property, and enterprise companies. Notably, it acquired Westinghouse Electrical Firm from chapter in 2018[75] in addition to a majority stake in Oaktree Capital Companions in 2019 for US $4,7 billion,[76] which has been elevated to 72 per cent in 2024.[77] In 2022, Brookfield Company spun off a 25 per cent curiosity in its asset administration enterprise, forming Brookfield Asset Administration Ltd., which manages US $916 billion in belongings.[78] This contains vital stakes in Oaktree Capital Administration and music writer Main Wave, which controls the music catalogues of famend artists like Ray Charles, Bob Marley, and Whitney Houston.[79]

DWS Group

DWS Group is the most recent PE firm that entered the music rights market in February 2025, when it funded a US $1 billion three way partnership between Slicing Edge Group and Warner Bros. The predecessor of DWS Group was the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Wertpapiersparen, based in 1956, which was later renamed Die Wertpapier Spezialisten (DWS). It was a three way partnership of a number of German monetary establishments led by Deutsche Financial institution, which held a 30 per cent share. In 2004, DWS was totally acquired by Deutsche Financial institution, which reworked DWS right into a wealth and asset administration subsidiary. In 2018, DWS was spun off as a separate firm in an IPO on the Frankfurt inventory trade, with Deutsche Financial institution as the principle shareholder, which nonetheless holds nearly 80 per cent of the shares. With belongings beneath administration of EUR 896 billion, DWS is among the world’s largest asset administration corporations. DWS gives conventional passive funding automobiles resembling securities funds and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) but additionally elevated the variety of different funding alternatives resembling investments in actual property, infrastructure, personal fairness and liquid belongings.[80] State and municipal governmental companies are the principle buyers in DWS funds, adopted by insurance coverage corporations, pension and retirement plans and different funding corporations.[81]

Smaller PE Firms within the Music IPR Market

BlackRock, Blackstone, KKR, Apollo World Administration, Brookfield Asset Administration (together with Oaktree) and The Carlyle Group are the giants of worldwide asset administration and funding which have develop into lively previously few years in music rights market. For these companies, investing in music rights is a distinct segment exercise with a complete AUM of properly beneath 1 per cent, primarily for danger and portfolio diversification functions. The state of affairs is considerably completely different for smaller PE and asset administration companies, which need to pursue a distinct segment technique because of their restricted assets. We are going to present under that music rights investments are far more related to the general providing of those smaller companies by way of belongings beneath administration.

Thus, smaller PE corporations such because the US-based Hellman & Friedman (H&F), Francisco Companions, Windfall Fairness Companions, the Canadian Northleaf Capital Companions and Shamrock Capital Advisors have invested closely in music rights catalogues.

Hellman & Friedman (H&F) made a major funding within the music rights market by buying World Music Rights (GMR) for US $3.3 billion in September 2024, which is a 3.75 per cent share of whole AUM.[82] H&F, based in 1987 by former executives of Lehman Brothers and Solomon Brothers, focuses on leveraged buyouts and progress capital investments, specializing in media, monetary, and data companies. They’ve a historical past of investing in corporations like Axel Springer Verlag, Pro7Sat1 Group, Nielsen, Getty Photographs, and NASDAQ.[83] In 2024, H&F managed US $105 billion in belongings, primarily by means of personal fairness buyouts with their Capital Companions Funds. The most recent fund, the Capital Companions Fund XI, was established in 2023 and has US $22.3 billion in belongings. Main buyers embody public retirement and pension plans, sovereign wealth funds, and different personal fairness companies.[84]

One other San Francisco-based PE firm that has invested in music rights, is Francisco Companions Administration. Francisco Companions had US $45.0 billion AUM by the top of March 2024.[85] Francisco Companions was the lead investor of a consortium, which purchased a 90 per cent stake for US $750 million within the Swedish Kobalt Music Group, consisting of Kobalt Music Publishing and the music accumulating society AMRA in September 2022, which accounted for 1.67 per cent of whole AUM.[86] Francisco Companions was based in 1999 by former workers of different PE companies to concentrate on leveraged buyouts of tech corporations within the Silicon Valley.

One other related investor in music rights is Windfall Fairness Companions, which was based by Jonathan M. Nelson 1989 in Windfall, Rhode Island within the US. Windfall Fairness Companions focuses its investments on media, communications, training, and data applied sciences.[87] In July 2024, Windfall Fairness Companions had US $24.6 billion AUM.[88] In 2019, Windfall partnered with main music firm Warner Music Group to type Tempo Music to amass music publishing in addition to recording catalogues. Windfall offered US $650 million in fairness and debt and Warner acquired a small minority stake within the three way partnership specializing in the administration of the publishing and recorded music belongings purchased by the fund. In February 2025, Warner Music Group purchased a majority stake in Tempo Music for US $450 million from Windfall, which nonetheless holds a minority stake.[89]

Northleaf Capital, a Toronto-based personal fairness firm, has a protracted historical past relationship again to 1969 when it was based as TD Capital. Initially a part of TD Financial institution Monetary Group, it grew to become an unbiased entity in 2009. Northleaf focuses on direct investments in infrastructure and small to medium-sized corporations in OECD nations. In 2016, it expanded into personal credit score, providing loans to mid-market corporations. By 2023, Northleaf managed US $25 billion in funds and personal credit score applications from 275 institutional and particular person buyers.[90]

Northleaf’s investments in music rights are a part of its personal credit score enterprise, described as area of interest investments with low correlation to capital market developments. These investments embody music royalty streams, monetary claims in pending court docket instances, and factoring offers.[91] Northleaf’s portfolio contains corporations like Slicing Edge Group, Duetti, and Crescendo Royalty Funding. Notable offers embody a US $500 million debt refinancing for Slicing Edge Group,[92] a US $75 million credit score facility for Duetti, and a US $303.8 million asset-backed securities issuance by means of Crescendo Royalty Funding, backed by music rights from Spirit Music Group.[93] The London-based Blantyre Capital, which was based as a PE firm in 2016, invested US $125 million in Slicing Edge Media Music in 2022.[94] Since its inception Blantyre made greater than 70 investments price EUR 2.4 billion within the mid-market with a concentrate on European nations. In comparison with the same old investments, which vary from EUR 15 to 100 million, the Slicing Edge funding was distinctive excessive and accounts for greater than 5 per cent of the general investments since 2016.[95] In contrast to typical leveraged buyouts, Slicing Edge was a conventional M&A deal, with the intention of making a income platform. The most recent investments by Blantyre Capital have been the leveraged buyouts of the Spanish catering and residential meals supply


Endnotes

[1] BlackRock Inc., 2024, BlackRock 2023 Annual Report, p. 33.

[2] Carey David & John E. Morris, 2012, King of Capital. The Outstanding Rise, Fall, and Rise Once more of Steve Schwarzman and Blackstone, New York: Forex, p. 59.

[3] Ibid., p. 124.

[4] CNN Cash, “Right here come the IPOs. An onslaught of firm debuts in coming days after week of high-flyers”, September 26, 1999, accessed: 2025-05-28.

[5] Billboard, “Main Wave’s CEO Explains a New $300 Million BlackRock Partnership, Getting Smokey Robinson a Sneaker Deal”, September 26, 2016, accessed: 2025-05-28.

[6] Reuters, “BlackRock to purchase Quellos fund of funds enterprise”, August 9, 2007, accessed: 2025-05-28.

[7] Main Wave press launch, “Simply Introduced: Strategic Partnerships with Brookfield Asset Administration and CAA!“, October 6, 2022, accessed: 2025-05-28.

[8] Selection, “Enrique Iglesias Sells Music Catalog to Affect Media in Reported 9-Determine Deal”, December 6, 2023, accessed: 2025-05-28.

[9] BlackRock press launch, “BlackRock to Purchase HPS Funding Companions to Ship Built-in Options Throughout Public and Non-public Markets”, December 3, 2024, accessed: 2025-05-28.

[10] Carey & Morris, 2012, King of Capital, p. 45.

[11] New York Occasions, “Firm Information; Vivendi Finishes Sale of Houghton Mifflin to Traders”, January 1, 2002, accessed: 2025-05-28.

[12] New York Occasions, “Firm Information; Blackstone Buys Majority Stake in Columbia Home”, Might 14, 2002, accessed: 2025-05-28.

[13] New York Occasions, “Blackstone to Purchase Hilton Resorts for $26 Billion”, July 7, 2007, accessed: 2025-05-28.

[14] New York Occasions, “Blackstone Founders Put together to Rely Their Billions”, June 12, 2007, accessed: 2025-05-28.

[15] Blackstone, 2024, Annual report for the fiscal yr ending December 31, 2023, p. 98.

[16] Billboard, “Was Blackstone’s SESAC Acquisition a $1 Billion Deal?”, January 6, 2017, accessed: 2025-05-28.

[17] Enterprise capital is a type of personal fairness and a kind of financing for startup corporations and small companies with long-term progress potential; see Investopia, “What Is Enterprise Capital? Definition, Professionals, Cons, and How It Works”, October 18, 2024, accessed: 2025-05-28.

[18] Japan Hana Actual Property, “Blackstone Buys $1B Japan Portfolio from PAG”, December 6, 2020, accessed: 2025-05-28.

[19] Blackstone press launch, “HH World Declares Settlement by Blackstone to make a £100m Strategic Minority Fairness Funding”, December 3, 2020, accessed: 2025-05-28.

[20] Pitchbook, “Blackstone Core Fairness Companions”, n.d., accessed: 2025-05-28.

[21] Blackstone Tactical Alternatives Advisors, 2024, Brochure of Blackstone Tactical Alternatives Advisors L.L.C., Kind ADV, Half 2A, submitted to Funding Adviser Public Disclosure (IAPD) of the US Securities and Change Fee (SEC) on March 28, 2024.

[22] Pitchbook, “Blackstone Tactical Alternatives Fund I”, n.d., accessed: 2025-05-28.

[23] Ibid.

[24] Ibid.

[25] Music Enterprise Worldwide, “New Mountain Capital-led group closes acquisition of BMI”, February 8, 2024, accessed: 2025-05-28.

[26] Monetary Occasions, “Dealmaker Steven Klinsky Quietly Hits Residence Runs Away from ’80s Limelight”, June 30, 2024, accessed: 2025-05-28.

[27] AUM 13F, “New Mountain Capital LLC”, n.d., accessed: 2025-05-28.

[28] New York Occasions, “Ex-Drexel Executives Organize Assist for Fruit of the Loom”, August 24, 1990, accessed: 2025-05-28.

[29] Apollo Historical past, “Apollo expands into actual property”, n.d., accessed: 2025-05-28.

[30] Ibid.

[31] New York Occasions, “Mine Firm Sells U.S. Unit”, April 12, 2007, accessed: 2025-05-28.

[32] Reuters, “Apollo chief says bought 9 p.c of agency to Abu Dhabi”, November 8, 2007, accessed: 2025-05-28.

[33] Reuters, “Apollo’s upsized IPO raises $565.4 million”, March 30, 2011, accessed: 2025-05-28.

[34] New York Occasions, “McGraw-Hill to Promote Training Unit to Apollo for $2.5 Billion”, November 26, 2012, accessed: 2025-05-28.

[35] Selection, “twenty first Century Fox and Apollo Seal Deal to Merge Shine, Endemol and Core”, October 10, 2014, accessed: 2025-05-28.

[36] CNET, “Yahoo has a brand new proprietor, once more”, September 1, 2021, accessed: 2025-05-28.

[37] CNBC, “Apollo World to purchase annuities supplier Athene in $11 billion deal”, March 8, 2021, accessed: 2025-05-28.

[38] Music Enterprise Worldwide, “Right here. Come. The. Giants.”, October 7, 2021, accessed: 2025-05-28.

[39] Music Enterprise Worldwide, “HarbourView ups credit score facility capability by $100m to purchase extra music rights”, December 5, 2023, accessed: 2025-05-28.

[40] Music Enterprise Worldwide, “Strap in. Blackstone is able to bid $1.5 billion for Hipgnosis Songs Fund”, April 20, 2024, accessed: 2025-05-28.

[41] Music Enterprise Worldwide, “Apollo leads $700m funding into Sony Music Group partnership. (It’s a sort of magic!)”, July 26, 2024, accessed: 2025-05-28.

[42] Burroughs, Bryan and John Helyar, 1989, Barbarian on the Gates. The Fall of RJR Nabisco, New York: Harper & Row. The screenplay adaptation was written by Larry Gelbart and directed by Glenn Jordan.

[43] New York Occasions, “Safeway Buyout: A Success Story”, October 21, 1988, accessed: 2025-05-28.

[44] New York Occasions, “Kohlberg Kravis Set to Supply $1.2 Billion for Cable Maker”, January 24, 1997, accessed: 2025-05-28.

[45] New York Occasions, “Siemens Unit Is Bought”, October 23, 1999, accessed: 2025-05-28.

[46] New York Occasions, “Three Companies Are Stated to Purchase Toys ‘R’ Us for $6 Billion”, March 17, 2005, accessed: 2025-05-28.

[47] Bloomberg, “Capital Companies Conform to Purchase SunGard Information in Money Deal”, March 29, 2005, accessed: 2025-05-28.

[48] Reuters, “KKR, Texas Pacific-led group to purchase TXU Corp.”, August 9, 2007, accessed: 2025-05-28.

[49] Reuters, “KKR makes first retail real-estate funding”, April 19, 2012, accessed: 2025-05-28.

[50] The Hollywood Reporter, “Non-public Fairness Big KKR Buys Herbert Kloiber’s Tele Munchen Group”, February 21, 2019, accessed: 2025-05-28.

[51] Reuters, “KKR turns into Axel Springer’s greatest shareholder”, August 26, 2019, accessed: 2025-05-28.

[52] CNN Enterprise, “After attempting for 3 years, Paramount lastly unloads Simon & Schuster for $1.6 billion”, August 7, 2023, accessed: 2025-05-28.

[53] Billboard, “EU clears Bertelsmann, KKR music rights JV“, September 9, 2009, accessed: 2025-05-28.

[54] Billboard, “Bertelsmann Buys Out BMG for $390M“, March 1, 2013, accessed: 2025-05-28.

[55] Music Enterprise Worldwide, “KKR buys majority stake in Ryan Tedder catalog, marking funding big’s return to music rights possession“, January 11, 2021, accessed: 2025-05-28.

[56] A distressed debt fund invests in obligations of corporations which have filed for chapter or are very prone to file for chapter within the close to future, which bears a excessive default danger, however with the change of extraordinarily excessive potential returns. See Investopia, “Why Hedge Funds Love Investing in Distressed Debt”, June 16, 2023, accessed: 2025-05-28.

[57] Pitchbook, “KKR Dislocation Alternatives Fund”, n.d., accessed: 2025-05-28.

[58] Music Enterprise Worldwide, “Confirmed: Kobalt sells catalog to new KKR enterprise, Chord, for $1.1 billion”, October 19, 2021, accessed: 2025-05-28.

[59] Music Enterprise Worldwide, “BMG and KKR are able to spend $1bn on music copyrights – and that’s only for starters …“, April 6, 2021, accessed: 2025-05-28.

[60] Music Enterprise Worldwide, “3 observations on… Common Music Group’s $240m wager on Chord Music (and the actual story, Dundee Companions)”, February 20, 2024, accessed: 2025-05-28.

[61] The Carlyle Group Ltd., 2024, Annual report of The Carlyle Group for the fiscal yr ending December 31, 2023, p. 7.

[62] New York Occasions, “Navy Contractor Bought to Buyout Agency”, August 27, 1997, accessed: 2025-05-28.

[63] Los Angeles Occasions, “Qwest to Promote Directories Enterprise for $7 Billion”, August 20, 2002, accessed: 2025-05-28.

[64] New York Occasions, “Ford Completes Sale of Hertz to three Companies”, September 13, 2005, accessed: 2025-05-28.

[65] The MBS Group Information, “Carlyle buys 50% stake in skate model Supreme”, October 9, 2017, accessed: 2025-05-28.

[66] The Wall Road Journal, “Carlyle Costs IPO at Decrease Vary”, Might 2, 2012, accessed: 2025-05-28.

[67] Music Enterprise Worldwide, “Keith City sells recordings catalog to $500m-backed Litmus Music”, December 13, 2022, accessed: 2025-05-28.

[68] Pitchbook, “Carlyle Credit score Alternatives Fund II”, n.d., accessed: 2025-05-28.

[69] Music Enterprise Worldwide, “$500m-backed Litmus Music acquires music rights from Benny Blanco”, June 28, 2023, accessed: 2025-05-28.

[70] Music Enterprise Worldwide, “Katy Perry sells music rights to Litmus Music in $220m+ deal”, September 18, 2023, accessed: 2025-05-28.

[71] Music Enterprise Worldwide, “Litmus Music acquires Opus, proprietor of Juice WRLD and Maluma rights, after extending credit score facility to $400m”, September 4, 2024, accessed: 2025-05-28.

[72] Music Enterprise Worldwide, “Carlyle-backed Litmus Music buys Randy Newman’s publishing, recorded music pursuits”, October 17, 2024, accessed: 2025-05-28.

[73] Worldwide Listing of Firm Histories, 2005, Brascan Company Historical past, vol.67. St. James Press, accessed: 2025-05-28.

[74] The Globe and Mail, “What’s in a reputation? Loads if it’s Brascan”, September 16, 2005, accessed: 2025-05-28.

[75] Reuters, “Brookfield Enterprise Companions to purchase Westinghouse for $4.6 billion”, January 4, 2018, accessed: 2025-05-28.

[76] Reuters, “Brookfield to purchase most of Oaktree to construct juggernaut to rival Blackstone”, March 14, 2019, accessed: 2025-05-28.

[77] Brookfield Asset Administration Ltd., 2024, Annual report of Brookfield Asset Administration for the monetary yr ending December 31, 2023, p. 156.

[78] Brookfield Company press launch, “Brookfield Company Efficiently Completes Distribution of 25% Curiosity in its Asset Administration Enterprise”, December 9, 2022, accessed: 2025-05-28.

[79] Music Enterprise Worldwide, “Main Wave raises $375m funding from Oaktree Capital, sells minority stake“, June 11, 2021, accessed: 2025-05-28.

[80] DWS Group, Geschäftsbericht 2023, p. 6.

[81] Funding Adviser Public Disclosure web site, “DWS Worldwide GmbH”, January 14, 2025, accessed: 2025-05-28.

[82] Music Enterprise Worldwide, “Irving Azoff’s GMR simply struck a $3.3 billion personal fairness deal, say MBW sources”, September 19, 2024, accessed: 2025-05-28.

[83] See Hellman & Friedman, “Portfolio”, n.d., accessed: 2025-05-28.

[84] Pitchbook, “Hellman & Friedman Capital Companions XI”, n.d., accessed: 2025-05-28.

[85] Funding Adviser Public Disclosure web site, “Francisco Companions Administration L.P.”, Might 28, 2024, accessed: 2025-05-28.

[86] Music Enterprise Worldwide, “Kobalt Music Group bought to US-based personal fairness agency Francisco Companions”, September 7, 2022, accessed: 2025-05-28.

[87] New York Occasions, “They’re Only a Bunch of Common Media Moguls”, September 14, 2003, accessed: 2025-05-28.

[88] Funding Adviser Public Disclosure web site, “Windfall Fairness Companions LLC”, July 26, 2024, accessed: 2025-05-28.

[89] Music Enterprise Worldwide, “Confirmed: Warner buys majority stake in Tempo (simply as MBW advised you it could)”, February 6, 2025, accessed: 2025-05-28.

[90] Northleaf Capital Companions, “Historical past & Key Milestones”, n.d., accessed: 2025-05-28.

[91] Ibid.

[92] Music Enterprise Worldwide, “Slicing Edge Group secures $500m to fund music rights acquisitions”, April 15, 2024, accessed: 2025-05-28.

[93] Music Enterprise Worldwide, “One other huge music deal, as Spirit Music Group father or mother strikes $500m alliance with Northleaf Capital Companions”, October 14, 2021, accessed: 2025-05-28.

[94] Music Enterprise Worldwide, “Slicing Edge and Blantyre Capital commit $125m to amass movie and TV music rights”, January 4, 2022, accessed: 2025-05-28.

[95] Blantyre, “Who We Are”, and “Funding Portfolio”, n.d., accessed: 2025-05-28.

* This weblog put up relies on the report IP Finance within the Music Business, which was commissioned by the World Mental Property Rights Group (WIPO).

Extra Behringer synth worth drops in Europe: 14 within the month of July 2025

Extra Behringer synth worth drops in Europe: 14 within the month of July 2025


SYNTH ANATOMY makes use of affiliation & companion packages (large crimson buttons) to finance part of the exercise. If you happen to use these, you help the web site. Thanks! 

Extra Behringer synth worth drops in February 2025 in Europe, together with on the Proton, Mannequin 15, and UB-Xa polyphonic analog Synthesizer. 

It’s July, and there’s loads of motion once more with Behringer’s EU costs. There are 12 new worth drops, together with the Professional-800 for 249€. New additions: the RD-8 MKII has dropped to 222€ and the UB-Xa D to 599€.

Product Outdated Worth New Worth ↑ ↓ Hyperlink
UB-Xa D 699€ (June 2025) 599€ (July 2025) -14% Thomann
RD-8 MKII 279€ (June 2025) 222€ (July 2025) -20% Thomann
Professional-800 289€ (June 2025) 249€ (July 2025) -14% Thomann
Solina 208€ (June 2025) 199€ (July 2025) -4% Thomann
Mannequin 15 222€ (June 2025) 199€ (July 2025) -10% Thomann
1047 Multi Filter/Resonator 69€ (June 2025) 53€ (July 2025) -23% Thomann
130 Twin VCA 39€ (June 2025) 36€ (July 2025) -8% Thomann
System 15 699€ (June 2025) 599€ (July 2025) -14% Thomann
RD-6-SB 95€ (June 2025) 79€ (July 2025) -17% Thomann
JT-4000M Micro 59€ (June 2025) 49€ (July 2025) -17% Thomann
992 Management Voltages 26€ (June 2025) 24€ (July 2025) -8% Thomann
CP3A-O OSC Controller 28€ (June 2025) 25,40€ (July 2025) -9% Thomann
921A Oscillator Driver 62€ (June 2025) 39€ (July 2025) -37% Thomann
921B Oscillator 59€ (June 2025) 56€ (July 2025) -5% Thomann
Edge 166€ (March 2025) 140€ (June 2025) – 15% Thomann
Kobol Expander 169€ (March 2025) 159€ (June 2025) – 6% Thomann
Deepmind 12 685€ (March 2025) 645 (June 2025) – 5,8% Thomann
Twin Part (FX) 159€ (March 2025) 73€ (June 2025) -54% Thomann
Area FX 69€ (March 2025) 59€ (June 2025) -14% Thomann
TD-3-TG 108€ (March 2025) 95€ (June 2025) -12% Thomann
Bode Freq Shifter 1630 105€ (March 2025) 99€ (June 2025) -6% Thomann
FCV100 V2 35€ (March 2025) 29€ (June 2025) -29% Thomann
4 Play 79€ (March 2025) 59€ (June 2025) -25% Thomann
CAT 179€ (March 2025) 169€ (June 2025) -6% Thomann
CP3A-M Mixer 59€ (March 2025) 56€ (June 2025) -5% Thomann
Twin Envelope Generator 1003 35€ (March 2025) 33€ (June 2025) -6% Thomann
962 Sequential Change 43€ (March 2025) 39€ (June 2025) -9% Thomann

March 2025

  • TD-3 AM Yellow: 120€ →104€ (13% OFF) (Thomann) (March 22, 2025)
  • 173 Quad Gate/Multiples: 49€ → 39€ (20% OFF) (Thomann) (March 22, 2025)
  • 995 Attenuators: 38€ → 18€ (38% OFF) (Thomann) (March 22, 2025)
  • Brains Macro Oscillator: 139€ → 99€ (29% OFF) (Nov 20, 2024) → 93€ (Thomann) (March 22, 2025)
  • 1003 Twin Envelope Generator: 57€ → 35€ (39% OFF) (Thomann) (March 22, 2025)
  • CP3A-O OSC Controller: 32€ → 28€ (13% OFF) (Thomann) (March 22, 2025)
  • 914 Filter Financial institution: 79€ → 69€ (17% OFF) (Thomann) (March 22, 2025)
  • 112 Twin VCO: 87€ → 81€ (7% OFF) (Thomann) (March 22, 2025)
  • 992 Voltage Controls: 29€ → 26€ (10% OFF) (Thomann) (March 22, 2025)
  • System 15: 769€ → 699€ (9% OFF) (Thomann) (March 22, 2025)
  • System 35: 759€ → 719€ (5% OFF) (Thomann) (March 22, 2025)
  • Solina string machine: 298€ → 222€ (25% OFF Nov 24) → 208€ (6,3% OFF) (Thomann) (March 18, 2025)
  • WASP Synthesizer: 155€ → 135€ (13,55% OFF) (Thomann) (March 17, 2025)
  • 2600 VCO: 74€ → 46€ (37% OFF) (Gear4music)  59€ (Thomann) (March 17, 2025)
  • MS-5: 598€ → 475€ (20% OFF) (Nov 29, 2024) → 426€ (10% OFF) (Thomann) (March 6, 2025)
  • 911 Envelope Generator: 66€ → 33€  (50% OFF) (Thomann) (March 6, 2025)
  • Twin Envelope Generator 1033: 75€ → 58€ (22% OFF) → 50€ (13% OFF) (Thomann) (March 6, 2025)

Curiously, the value of the Behringer UB-Xa went up once more from below 869€ to 899€.

February

  • Radar: 66€ → 42€ (36% OFF) (Jan 8) →  39€ (Thomann) (February 27, 2025)
  • Proton: 399€ → 328€ (17,79% OFF) → 319€  (Thomann) (Musicstore) (February 5, 2025)
  • Mannequin 15: 299€ → 269€ (10% OFF) → 249€ (Thomann) (February 5, 2025)

January 2025

  • 1050 Sequencer Module: 89€ → 76€ (14,61% OFF) (Thomann) (January 17, 2025)
  • A number of: 28€ → 19€ (32% OFF) (Thomann) (January 17, 2025)
  • Eurorack GO case: 229€ → 190€ (17% OFF) (Thomann) (Musicstore) (January 8, 2025)
  • Toro: 199€ → 177€ (Nov 8) → 169€ → 160€ (5% OFF) (Thomann) (January 8, 2025)
  • 4 LFO: 99€ → 82€ (17% OFF) (Thomann) (January 8, 2025) 
  • CM1A: 99€ → 40% OFF (60% OFF) (Thomann) (January 8, 2025)
  • 150 Ring Mod/Noise/S&H/LFO: 59€ → 49€ (16% OFF) (Nov 6) → 38€ (Thomann(January 8, 2025)
  • RS-9: 149€ → 142€ (5% OFF) (Thomann) (January 8, 2025)
  • 1016 Twin Noise/random turbines: 66€ → 34€ (48% OFF) (Thomann) (January 8, 2025)
  • Wave Synthesizer: 639€ → 599€ (6% OFF) (Thomann(January 8, 2025)

Abstract Of The Behringer EU Worth Drops in 2024

  • 2600 Synthesizer (orange/black): 439€ → 399€ (9% OFF) (Thomann) (November 29, 2024)
  • 1047 Multi Filter/Resonator: 95€ →  79€ (17% OFF) (Thomann)  (November 29, 2024)
  • Abacus (MM Maths clone): 107€ → 75€ (30% OFF) (Thomann) (November 29, 2024)
  • 110 VCO/VCF/VCA: 83€ → 59€ (29% OFF) Thomann (November 29, 2024)
  • 1005 Modamp module: 74€ → 66€ (11% OFF) Thomann (November 29, 2024)

 

  • UB-Xa Synthesizer: 895 → 880€ (1,6% OFF) (Thomann) (November 24, 2024)
  • Victor vector oscillator: 99€ → 69€ (30% OFF) (Thomann) (November 20, 2024
  • Professional-1 (Sequential Professional One clone): 259€ → 189€ (27% OFF) (Thomann) (November 20, 2024
  • System 100 121 Twin VCF 95€ → 46,70€ (51% OFF) (Gear4Music)  (November 20, 2024
  • System 100 182 Analog Sequencer: 89€ →  49€ (48% OFF ) (Thomann) (Gear4Music)  (November 20, 2024
  • 140 Twin Envelope/LFO: 76€ →  39€ (49% OFF) (Thomann)  (November 20, 2024
  • Twin Envelope Generator 1033: 75€ → 58€ (22% OFF) (Thomann) (November 20, 2024
  • 2600 Blue Marvin: 568€ → 444€ (21% OFF) (Thomann)  (November 20, 2024
  • 2600-VCO: 95€ → 74€ (22% OFF) (Thomann) (November 20, 2024
  • S&H / Random Voltage 1036: 85€ → 70€ (18% OFF) (Thomann(November 20, 2024

 

  • TD-3-MO: 222€ → 155€  (30% OFF) (November 6, 2024)
  • TD-3 MO-BK: 222€ → 155€ (30% OFF) (Musicstore.de) (November 6, 2024)
  • TD-3-MO SR: 222€ → 155€ (30% OFF) (Musicstore.de)  (November 6, 2024)
  • Kobol Expander: 179€ → 169€ (5% OFF) (November 6, 2024)
  • RD-8 MKII: 339€ → 279€ (17,7% OFF) (November 6, 2024)
  • RD-9: 329€ → 299€ (9% OFF) (November 6, 2024)

Article From November 2, 2024

Up to now few months, costs for Behringer synthesizers in Europe have dropped. This was anticipated after vital adjustments within the US final Summer season. One other adopted right this moment with a worth drop on the Behringer Mannequin D to the bottom worth of 199€.

A take a look at Thomann and Amazon revealed additional vital worth drops in Europe on Behringer synthesizers.

Extra Behringer worth drops

The Behringer CAT Synthesizer is now 179€ as an alternative of 239€ (Thomann), a 25% worth discount. It’s an analog clone/reproduction of the Octave The Cat duophonic analog Synthesizer from 1976 with two VCOs, a filter, a single LFO with S&H, and extra.

Then, the Kobol Expander worth dropped from 189€ to 173€ (8,47% OFF Musziker), or 180€ (4,76% OFF Thomann). It’s not a serious worth discount however the perfect worth to this point. It’s an genuine clone/reproduction of the RSF Kobol Expander Synthesizer from 1979.

The Kobol Expander is without doubt one of the most fun B clones as a result of the unique is a really uncommon Synthesizer, and the clone options are very patchable.  Not like a Behringer Mannequin D, the Kobol Expander has loads of CV and audio connectivity, that means nearly each operate can be utilized modularly.

The Behringer Solina String Ensemble has additionally fallen considerably. The clone/reproduction of the ARP Solina String Ensemble from 1974 is at the moment bought for 222€ as an alternative of 298€. That can also be 25% lower than earlier than.

Extra Worth Drops

As reported in one other article, the Mannequin D, Behringer’s Minimoog clone/reproduction, additionally obtained a worth replace. It’s now obtainable for 199€ as an alternative of 259€

The UB-Xa polysynth has additionally fallen once more. In the summertime, the value fell to €999 from 1299€. Now, the Synth is on the market for 975€, one other 2.4% much less. Musicstore.de additionally has a bit of worth adjustment on the desktop model (UB-Xa D). It’s now 819€ as an alternative of 849€.

The Behringer Area FX module has additionally skilled a big worth drop. It launched in April 2023 for 99€ and is now obtainable for 69€.

Additional, the Toro Synthesizer, beforehand 199€, is now 177€ (11% OFF). It’s a clone/reproduction of the Moog Taurus rev1 from 1975. Different new costs are: 

  • 4 Play (Intellijel VCA clone) 98€ → 78€ (Muziker) 

The wave of worth changes from the US is now additionally reaching Europe. I’m curious to see which synths will change into cheaper and whether or not the costs will keep the identical or change into costlier within the subsequent months. 

Extra data right here: Behringer

Accessible at my companions

Thomann

{Hardware} Offers



Sacred Acre 2025: Experiences That Will Outline Alaska's Wildest Competition

Sacred Acre 2025: Experiences That Will Outline Alaska's Wildest Competition

In an period when many main festivals recycle comparable lineups and experiences, differing solely in timing and placement, Sacred Acre stands aside with an intimate, singular providing. The Ninilchik, Alaska-based pageant boasts a decrease capability and better goal than most of its contemporaries.

Alaska’s largest digital music pageant guarantees a multidimensional expertise that blends music, nature, and activism into an unforgettable weekend. From high-altitude journey to deep-grounded wellness, listed below are some key experiential choices that can outline the 2025 version.

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The Audiovisual Expertise

Sacred Acre will function three phases and 72 hours of music from the likes of TroyBoi, Jade Cicada, Emancipator, Desert Dwellers, The Funk Hunters, Dust Monkey, and greater than fifty different artists throughout bass, experimental, and downtempo genres. The pageant is capped at roughly 5,000 attendees, guaranteeing an intimate and immersive setting. Attendees will expertise Alaska’s largest laser and lighting show, reworking the night time sky above the Kenai Peninsula right into a full-spectrum visible efficiency.

Journey Excursions

Helicopter Excursions
Supplied by means of Alaska’s Final Safaris, excursions depart immediately from pageant grounds and vary from 10-minute scenic loops to 1.5-hour glacier touchdown adventures.

Bumpin’ on the Bay
A limited-capacity DJ cruise on Kachemak Bay that includes nationwide artists, breathtaking ocean views, and sundown dance periods within the coronary heart of Alaska’s coastal wilderness.

Underwater Halibut Spearfishing
In partnership with Coldwater Alaska, company can have interaction in a sustainable spearfishing tour—an expertise that’s equal components journey and ecological schooling.

Kenai River Fishing & Foraging Hikes
Guided daytime experiences present entry to certainly one of Alaska’s most legendary salmon rivers, paired with regional plant foraging excursions led by native naturalists.

Wellness and Workshops

Stillwater Reflection Heart
A devoted area for over twenty-five free workshops, open to all GA ticket holders. Choices embrace yoga, breathwork, sound therapeutic, ecstatic dance, intention setting, and cacao ceremonies.

Tranquilitea Lounge and Tavern
Grounding social areas to recharge, join, and replicate all through the weekend.

Psychedelic Training Collection
A curated set of discussions and shows centered on psychological well being, hurt discount, and acutely aware exploration.

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Theatrical and Immersive Components

SeaLegs Stilt Troupe
The pageant’s iconic theatrical ensemble returns with beloved characters Laorca and Crabetha, joined by newly launched “forces” that advance a site-specific narrative all through the weekend.

Household Tremendous Jam
A collaborative, intergenerational musical set bringing collectively artists and shock company in a genre-blending celebration of neighborhood.

ARCHES Campground
On-site tenting nestled inside a spruce forest only a quick stroll from the principle stage. Contains entry to gear leases and comfort-focused upgrades.

Environmental Mission and Affect

Sacred Acre was based as a direct response to the specter of manufacturing facility trawling and bycatch destruction in Alaska’s waters. Its dedication to environmental advocacy is woven into each side of the weekend—from a zero-plastic operations coverage and compostable-only distributors, to ocean schooling installations and donation partnerships with marine conservation teams.

Attendees are invited not simply to witness, however to take part in a motion to guard Alaska’s pure ecosystems—bridging music and mission by means of direct motion, consciousness, and intention.

You should buy tickets to Sacred Acre Competition right here.

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