The music licensing industry in Europe involves businesses that manage and monetize the rights to music. This industry includes record labels, music publishers, and tech startups that provide solutions for artists and companies to legally use music. As digital streaming grows, licensing agreements are becoming more complex and valuable, allowing platforms like Spotify to flourish. Organizations are also leveraging data analytics to optimize licensing deals. Furthermore, there’s a notable surge in investment activity as stakeholders seek to capitalize on the potential of the expanding digital economy.


The list features a mix of venture capital, private equity, and corporate investors from key European cities like London, Paris, and Berlin. With sizes ranging from small teams to large firms, they collectively completed over 400 investments in 2024. Founded in various years, these investors show a robust strategy to engage with innovative music licensing enterprises. The active participation of firms like BMG and Index Ventures highlights the industry's appeal in the current investment landscape.


Top 18 Music Licensing Investors in Europe


1. Bmg


Bertelsmann Music Group (BMG) is a corporate investor based in Berlin, Germany, founded in 2005. BMG operates as a music publishing and record label company, providing services in music publishing and rights management. The company is dedicated to supporting artists and songwriters in promoting and distributing their music, ensuring they receive fair compensation. BMG has made strategic acquisitions to bolster its position in the music licensing sector, including the acquisition of X-Ray Dog Music, an independent production music library, and AXS Music, a French production music company. These acquisitions are part of BMG's broader strategy to expand its BMG Production Music division, highlighting their commitment to the music licensing market. Additionally, BMG has acquired various record labels, such as RBC Records and S-Curve Records, further solidifying their influence in the music industry.


2. Believe

  • Website: believe.com
  • Type: Corporate
  • Headquarters: Paris, Île-De-France, France
  • Founded year: 2005
  • Headcount: 1001-5000
  • Number of deals in 2024: 3
  • LinkedIn: believe-digital

Believe SAS is a corporate investor based in Paris, Île-De-France, France, founded in 2005. As a leading digital music company, Believe provides distribution and marketing services for independent artists and labels, focusing on empowering them to manage their careers effectively. In recent years, Believe has made significant acquisitions that enhance its position in the music licensing space. Notably, they fully acquired TuneCore, a digital music distribution and publishing administration company, in 2015, which allows them to support independent artists in monetizing their music. In 2023, Believe acquired Sentric Music for €47 million, further expanding their services in music publishing. Additionally, their acquisition of a 49% stake in Tôt ou tard, the second largest independent label in France, and the acquisition of Naive, a French independent label, highlight their strategic shift towards artist services and development, which now constitutes 70% of their revenue. These transactions underscore Believe's commitment to enhancing visibility and revenue for artists in the evolving digital music landscape.


3. Index Ventures

  • Website: indexventures.com
  • Type: Venture Capital
  • Headquarters: London, England, United Kingdom (UK)
  • Founded year: 1996
  • Headcount: 51-200
  • Number of deals in 2024: 67
  • LinkedIn: index-ventures

Index Ventures is a venture capital firm founded in 1996, based in London, England. The firm invests in innovative startups across various sectors, including technology and healthcare, providing capital and strategic support to entrepreneurs. Notably, Index Ventures has been involved in several significant transactions within the music industry, including investments in SoundCloud, a leading audio platform that has raised multiple funding rounds, including a Series D round in 2014 and a Series B round in 2011. Additionally, they invested in 8tracks Radio, a music streaming service that raised funds in a Seed Round in 2012. These investments highlight Index Ventures' engagement in the music licensing space, as both companies require licensing agreements to operate effectively. Their focus on building long-term partnerships with founders aligns with their strategy of supporting innovative companies in the music sector.


4. Bauer Media Group

  • Website: bauermedia.com
  • Type: Corporate
  • Headquarters: Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
  • Founded year: 1875
  • Headcount: 10001+
  • Number of deals in 2024: 2
  • LinkedIn: bauer-media-group

Bauer Media Group is a corporate investor based in Hamburg, Germany, founded in 1875. It specializes in publishing and audio broadcasting, offering a diverse range of products including magazines, digital content, and radio stations. The company serves millions of consumers and businesses across Europe, focusing on enriching everyday life through engaging content and marketing services. In recent years, Bauer Media has made several strategic acquisitions in the audio broadcasting sector, including Planet Rock, a national digital radio station known for classic rock music, and Absolute Radio, which they acquired for approximately £22 million. Additionally, they have acquired regional stations like Beat 102-103 and JACK fm Oxfordshire, further expanding their digital radio portfolio. These transactions highlight Bauer Media's commitment to enhancing their music broadcasting capabilities, making them a relevant player in the music licensing industry.


5. Superstruct Iberia


Superstruct Iberia, a corporate investor based in Madrid, Spain, is part of Superstruct Entertainment, a live entertainment company founded in 2017. They specialize in premium live music festivals and events, connecting brand partners with passionate audiences. Superstruct has made several notable acquisitions in the music sector, including The Music Republic, a Spanish festival giant, and Boiler Room, a well-known platform for live music events. Additionally, they have invested in Elrow, a Spanish electronic music promoter, and the Apenkooi Group, an Amsterdam-based electronic music event promoter. These transactions highlight Superstruct's commitment to enhancing its portfolio in the live music space, making them a significant player in the music industry.


6. Almi

  • Website: almi.se
  • Type: Venture Capital
  • Headquarters: Stockholm, Stockholm, Sweden
  • Founded year: 1994
  • Headcount: 201-500
  • Number of deals in 2024: 7
  • LinkedIn: almi-ab

Almi AB is a financial services company based in Stockholm, Sweden, founded in 1994. It specializes in providing loans, risk capital, and business development support to small and medium-sized enterprises. Almi aims to enhance the growth and competitiveness of these businesses by offering tailored financial solutions and guidance. In the music licensing context, Almi has made notable investments in companies such as Auddly, a Stockholm-based song project management platform that raised SEK 20m in venture capital funding, and Starmony, a music tech company that allows users to create and release music globally. Additionally, Almi has been involved in funding rounds for Session Studio and Reactional Music, further demonstrating its commitment to supporting innovation in the music industry.


7. Spotify

  • Website: spotify.com
  • Type: Corporate
  • Headquarters: Stockholm, Stockholm, Sweden
  • Founded year: 2006
  • Headcount: 5001-10000
  • Number of deals in 2024: 1
  • LinkedIn: spotify

Spotify is a music and podcast streaming service founded in 2006, headquartered in Stockholm, Sweden. With a user base that enjoys access to a vast library of audio content, Spotify has made several strategic investments and acquisitions to enhance its offerings. Notably, Spotify made a passive minority investment in DistroKid, an independent music distributor, in 2018, which allows artists to distribute their music seamlessly across various platforms, including Apple Music and YouTube. Additionally, Spotify acquired Sonalytic, a music recognition technology company, in 2017, which could enhance their capabilities in music licensing and rights management. Other acquisitions include niland, a music data analytics company, and Soundtrap, a collaborative music creation platform, both of which further demonstrate Spotify's commitment to improving services for artists and content creators. These transactions highlight Spotify's active involvement in the music licensing ecosystem, making them a relevant investor in this space.


8. Crowdcube

  • Website: crowdcube.com
  • Type: Corporate
  • Headquarters: London, England, United Kingdom (UK)
  • Founded year: 2010
  • Headcount: 51-200
  • Number of deals in 2024: 3
  • LinkedIn: crowdcube-limited

Crowdcube is a London-based crowdfunding platform founded in 2010 that enables businesses to raise capital through equity investments. It connects startups and SMEs with potential investors, facilitating the funding process. The platform promotes diversity and inclusion within its workforce while providing investment management services to its clients. Notably, Crowdcube has been involved in several transactions relevant to the music industry, including Encore Musicians, which raised $787,782 in July 2023, and Electronic Sound Magazine, which raised $113,229 in February 2017. These investments highlight Crowdcube's commitment to supporting businesses in the music sector, making it a significant player in the music licensing landscape.


9. Bpifrance French Tech Accélération


Bpifrance French Tech Accélération is a venture capital investor based in Paris, Île-De-France, France, founded in 2015. As a public entity and financial institution, Bpifrance supports entrepreneurs and businesses in France and internationally through various services, including direct funding and private equity investments. Notably, Bpifrance has participated in significant transactions within the music industry, such as a €50 million investment in MWM, a music application publishing company, and funding rounds for Groover, a music promotion platform. These investments highlight Bpifrance's role in fostering innovation and growth in the music sector, aligning with its mission to support creativity and entrepreneurship.


10. Sushi Venture Partners


Sushi Venture Partners is a private equity investment and advisory firm based in London, England, founded in 2012. The firm specializes in the media tech sector, providing tailored investment and advisory services to both startups and established companies in this field. They focus on entrepreneurial founders and CEOs who aim to innovate within the digital media landscape. Notably, Sushi Venture Partners has been involved in several transactions relevant to the music licensing context, including investments in Musiio, a company that utilizes AI to enhance music data management, and Cyanite, which also operates in the music tech space. Their portfolio reflects a commitment to supporting innovative solutions in media technology, which includes aspects of music licensing.


11. Kima Ventures

  • Website: kimaventures.com
  • Type: Venture Capital
  • Headquarters: Paris, Île-De-France, France
  • Founded year: 2010
  • Headcount: 1-10
  • Number of deals in 2024: 50
  • LinkedIn: kima-ventures

Kima Ventures is a venture capital firm based in Paris, Île-De-France, France, founded in 2010. The firm specializes in investing in early-stage startups across various sectors, backing two startups per week with financial support and mentorship. Kima Ventures has made notable investments in the music technology space, including Aiva Technologies, which utilizes artificial intelligence to compose emotional soundtracks, and Groover, a music tech startup that raised €1.3 million to enhance its matching system for artists and music professionals. Additionally, they participated in a $3.1 million Series A funding round for Soundcharts, a French music analytics firm, which aims to expand its operations internationally. These transactions highlight Kima Ventures' active role in supporting innovative companies within the music licensing and technology sectors.


12. Ascension

  • Website: ascension.vc
  • Type: Venture Capital
  • Headquarters: London, England, United Kingdom (UK)
  • Founded year: 2015
  • Headcount: 11-50
  • Number of deals in 2024: 14
  • LinkedIn: ascension-media-group

Ascension is a venture capital firm based in London, England, founded in 2015. They specialize in funding early-stage tech businesses and impact-driven companies, providing tax-efficient investment funds and mentorship to help startups scale their operations. Notably, Ascension has been involved in several transactions relevant to the music licensing industry. They participated in funding rounds for Blokur, a UK-based startup focused on music rights management, which raised a total of $1.2 million in seed funding. Additionally, they invested in Trackd, a platform that connects artists and fans, which also aligns with the music industry. Their investment in Rotor, a content platform for creating promotional videos, further demonstrates their engagement with media and content creation, which often intersects with music licensing.


13. CTS EVENTIM AG & Co. KGaA

  • Website: eventim.de
  • Type: Corporate
  • Headquarters: Bremen, Bremen, Germany
  • Founded year: 1999
  • Headcount: 1001-5000
  • Number of deals in 2024: 1
  • LinkedIn: cts-eventim-ag

CTS EVENTIM AG & Co. KGaA is a corporate investor based in Bremen, Germany, founded in 1999. The company specializes in ticketing solutions and event promotion, serving both consumers seeking live entertainment and businesses in the event industry. CTS EVENTIM operates a digital platform for ticket sales and collaborates with various promoters across multiple countries. Notably, the company has made significant acquisitions in the live music sector, including a controlling stake in Vivo Concerti, an Italian concert promoter, and a 51% stake in Vertigo, another Italian concert promoter. These acquisitions enhance CTS EVENTIM's presence in the live entertainment market, allowing them to promote concerts and festivals, which are integral to the music licensing industry. Additionally, their acquisition of DreamHaus GmbH, which organizes major festivals like 'Rock am Ring' and 'Rock im Park', further solidifies their role in the music ecosystem.


14. Balderton Capital

  • Website: balderton.com
  • Type: Venture Capital
  • Headquarters: London, England, United Kingdom (UK)
  • Founded year: 2000
  • Headcount: 51-200
  • Number of deals in 2024: 25
  • LinkedIn: balderton-capital_2

Balderton Capital is a venture capital firm based in London, England, founded in 2000. The firm specializes in investing in European-founded technology companies, providing not only financial backing but also support programs aimed at enhancing founder wellbeing and performance. Balderton has been actively involved in the music licensing sector, notably through its investments in Kobalt Music, where they participated in multiple funding rounds including a $75 million Series D in 2017 and a $40 million Series B in 2013. Kobalt Music is known for its innovative royalty collections platform that caters to the growing demands of music streaming. Additionally, Balderton invested in 7digital, a digital music services company, further solidifying their presence in the music industry. Their portfolio reflects a commitment to supporting technology-driven solutions in music licensing and distribution.


15. EQT Group

  • Website: eqtgroup.com
  • Type: Private Equity
  • Headquarters: Stockholm, Stockholm, Sweden
  • Founded year: 1994
  • Headcount: 1001-5000
  • Number of deals in 2024: 30
  • LinkedIn: eqt-partners

EQT Group is a prominent investment firm founded in 1994, specializing in private equity, infrastructure, real estate, growth equity, and venture capital. Based in Stockholm, Sweden, EQT serves institutional investors by managing diverse investment portfolios across various sectors and geographies. Notably, EQT has made significant investments in the music licensing industry, including a SEK 4.6 billion financing round for Epidemic Sound, a leading music licensing platform, which has raised substantial funds in previous rounds as well. Additionally, EQT's involvement in the takeover bid for Believe, a company that operates in the music distribution and licensing space, further underscores their commitment to the music industry. Their strategic investment in United Talent Agency (UTA) also highlights their focus on talent and innovation within the entertainment sector, reinforcing their relevance in music licensing.


16. Bgf

  • Website: bgf.co.uk
  • Type: Venture Capital
  • Headquarters: London, England, United Kingdom (UK)
  • Founded year: 2011
  • Headcount: 51-200
  • Number of deals in 2024: 53
  • LinkedIn: bgfinvestments

BGF Investment Management Limited is a venture capital firm founded in 2011, based in London, England. The firm focuses on providing growth funding and value creation support to small and mid-sized businesses in the UK and Ireland. BGF addresses the funding gap in the market through minority investments and extensive support services. Notably, BGF has invested in Sentric Music, a fast-growing music publishing company, providing £3m to accelerate its international expansion. Additionally, BGF invested £6M in One Media IP Group, which aims to acquire music catalogs as part of its growth strategy. These transactions highlight BGF's active role in the music licensing industry, making it a relevant investor in this space.


17. Northzone

  • Website: northzone.com
  • Type: Venture Capital
  • Headquarters: London, England, United Kingdom (UK)
  • Founded year: 1996
  • Headcount: 11-50
  • Number of deals in 2024: 23
  • LinkedIn: northzone

Northzone is a venture capital firm founded in 1996, based in London, England. The firm specializes in investing in startups from Seed to Growth stages, providing financial backing and strategic support to entrepreneurs. With a history of over 175 investments, Northzone aims to empower founders to navigate the challenges of building successful businesses. Notably, Northzone has invested in music-related companies such as Soundrop, a social music discovery platform, where they led a $3.4 million Series B funding round in 2013 and participated in a $3 million Series A round in 2012. They also invested in doubleTwist, which raised $5 million in Series B and $2.5 million in Series A, focusing on media management and music streaming services. These transactions highlight Northzone's engagement in the music licensing and discovery space, showcasing their interest in supporting innovative solutions within the music industry.


18. LocalGlobe

  • Website: localglobe.vc
  • Type: Venture Capital
  • Headquarters: London, England, United Kingdom (UK)
  • Founded year: 2019
  • Headcount: 11-50
  • Number of deals in 2024: 15
  • LinkedIn: localglobe

LocalGlobe is a venture capital firm based in London, England, founded in 2019. The firm partners with exceptional founders and companies at various stages of growth, from pre-seed to scale-up and public markets. LocalGlobe provides venture capital funding and investment management services, focusing on supporting startups in navigating their growth challenges. Notably, they have invested in music-related companies such as Songkick, which raised $15,000 in a pre-seed round in 2007, and Sofar Sounds, which raised an undisclosed amount in a seed round in 2014. These investments highlight LocalGlobe's engagement with the music industry, particularly in areas that may intersect with music licensing.



Music Licensing Insights: Key Investors in Europe


InvestorHeadquarterSizeFoundedDeals 2024
BmgBerlin, Berlin, Germany1001-500020050
BelieveParis, Île-De-France, France1001-500020053
Index VenturesLondon, England, United Kingdom (UK)51-200199667
Bauer Media GroupHamburg, Hamburg, Germany10001+18752
Superstruct IberiaMadrid, Madrid, Spain51-20020171
AlmiStockholm, Stockholm, Sweden201-50019947
SpotifyStockholm, Stockholm, Sweden5001-1000020061
CrowdcubeLondon, England, United Kingdom (UK)51-20020103
Bpifrance French Tech AccélérationParis, Île-De-France, France1-102015198
Sushi Venture PartnersLondon, England, United Kingdom (UK)1-1020120
Kima VenturesParis, Île-De-France, France1-10201050
AscensionLondon, England, United Kingdom (UK)11-50201514
CTS EVENTIM AG & Co. KGaABremen, Bremen, Germany1001-500019991
Balderton CapitalLondon, England, United Kingdom (UK)51-200200025
EQT GroupStockholm, Stockholm, Sweden1001-5000199430
BgfLondon, England, United Kingdom (UK)51-200201153
NorthzoneLondon, England, United Kingdom (UK)11-50199623
LocalGlobeLondon, England, United Kingdom (UK)11-50201915


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