Warner Music Group and Bain Capital Announce Launch of Joint Venture to Invest Up To $1.2 Billion in Iconic Music Catalogs

Warner Music Group and Bain Capital launched a $1.2B joint venture to acquire iconic music catalogs. WMG will handle marketing and distribution, while both firms will co-invest and source deals, aiming to preserve and expand the legacies of legendary artists and songwriters globally.

NEW YORK and BOSTON – July 1, 2025 - Warner Music Group (NASDAQ: WMG), the global music entertainment company, and Bain Capital, a leading global private investment firm, are launching a joint venture to allow for the purchase of up to $1.2 billion of legendary music catalogs across both recorded music and music publishing. The partnership was formed through equal equity commitments from WMG and Bain Capital.

This new strategic venture will provide artists and songwriters with opportunities to preserve and expand the reach of their catalogs, ensuring their legacies are well cared for. WMG and Bain Capital will together source and acquire the catalogs, while WMG will manage all aspects of marketing, distribution, and administration. By combining WMG’s worldwide infrastructure and relationships with Bain Capital’s global resources and financial capabilities, the venture is well-positioned to set a new standard as the preferred partner for renowned musical talent.

This deal comes at an opportune time in the music industry, given changing fan behavior, driven by streaming and emerging technologies that introduce classic music to new audiences.

“Iconic artists and songwriters choose WMG to grow their legacies and introduce their art to new generations through impactful and innovative campaigns,” said Robert Kyncl, CEO, Warner Music Group. “Augmenting our deep expertise and global infrastructure with Bain Capital’s financial prowess and belief in music will make us the destination of choice for preeminent catalogs.”

“Timeless music content continues to sit at the center of consumer entertainment,” said Angelo Rufino, a Partner at Bain Capital. “Stewardship of catalogs has never been more important as artists and songwriters deserve support to enhance the value of their work while delivering fans new and exciting collaborations. Warner Music Group, with its deep creative resources and partnership culture, is the ideal partner for Bain Capital to work alongside as we grow and safeguard the world’s iconic music.”

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We are one of the world’s leading private investment firms with approximately $180 billion in assets under management that creates lasting impact for our investors, teams, businesses and the communities in which we live. Founded in 1984, we pioneered a consulting-based approach to private equity investing, partnering closely with management teams to offer the insights that challenge conventional thinking, build great businesses and improve operations. Over time, we have organically expanded this approach across asset classes to build one of the strongest alternative asset platforms in the world.

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