This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.
Artist News Business News Deals Labels & Publishers
Ryan Tedder sells majority stake in his songs to KKR
By Andy Malt | Published on Tuesday 12 January 2021
OneRepublic vocalist and songwriter to the stars Ryan Tedder has sold a majority stake in his publishing catalogue to KKR, the investment firm that was pretty active in music rights for a while as a key financial backer of the current incarnation of BMG in its early years.
Tedder’s catalogue contains nearly 500 songs, including works recorded by the likes of Beyonce, Adele, Lady Gaga, U2 and Cardi B, as well as OneRepublic.
“The music industry is undergoing an incredible period of transformation”, he says. “Streaming and all forms of digital content are not only providing new avenues for how we consume music, but also for how artists can reach new audiences in a much more immersive way. KKR really stood out to us from every metric that mattered and it truly impressed upon me and my team their commitment to music as a true focus and passion moving forward”.
KKR Chair Nat Zilkha adds: “We are excited to partner with Ryan on both his extraordinary body of creative work and on pursuing future opportunities together. At KKR, we are focused on a number of investment initiatives across the music and entertainment industries and we believe Ryan’s unique combination of artistic brilliance and business acumen will help us amplify these efforts”.
It remains to be seen if that focus on music and entertainment investments will see KKR buy up any other catalogues from successful songwriters. Assuming there are any left once Hipgnosis and Round Hill and their ilk are done with all their many many many catalogue acquisitions.
