Duetti’s Mission to Democratize Music Rights
The three-year-old musical investment company Duetti has undertaken a mission to “democratize” the acquisition of music catalogs, making them accessible to independent artists.
Now, the company is broadening its scope from acquiring master rights to include publishing rights and milestone flows. According to Duetti, this expansion was bolstered by 200 million US dollars in new debt financing, comprising 150 million dollars in bank funding and 50 million dollars from Viola Credit.
Significant Capital Influx for Independent Artists
This results in an overall increase in the company’s resources, which now includes joint-stock capital, debt financing, and asset-backed securities (ABS) amounting to 435 million dollars.
The capital infusion came from a range of investors and creditors, including ROC National, Flexpoint Ford, Nyca Partners, Viola Ventures, and Viva Credit, along with other firms such as Prediction Capital and Cohen Circle.
“We believe we are paving the way to educate capital markets regarding the substantial long-term value of the independent music sector,” co-founder and CEO Lior Tibon stated last fall.
“The number of independent artists is growing at an unprecedented rate, and Duetti is here to ensure they have access to differentiated financing solutions.”
“With the introduction of royalties and publishing proposals, we can now help even more creators maximize their potential.”
Lior Tibon, Duetti
In a statement released on Tuesday (March 4), Duetti expressed that the latest expansion “provides the ability to manage catalogs and marketing for a broader array of sound recording artists, songwriters, producers, and other creatives, enabling them to unlock financial value from their work through straightforward, transparent monetary transactions.”
According to Duetti, independent creators earning at least $2,000 per year from their musical rights can access Duetti’s structured transactions to sell their rights, royalty shares, or portions of their catalog, even if they do not hold the basic rights. The company offers upfront, one-time payments, and those who sell will be able to utilize Duetti’s Catalog Management and Marketing services.
Tibon stated that the expansion into publishing and royalties aligns with Duetti’s commitment to prioritize independent music creators, many of whom have historically been excluded from traditional catalog transactions. He added, “With the introduction of royalties and publishing proposals, we can now assist even more creators in maximizing their potential. Our mission remains straightforward: to provide quick, transparent cash offers and help independent musicians advance their careers.”
Founded by Tibon (former CEO of music streamer Tidal) and Christopher Nolt (former business development manager at Apple Music), Duetti collaborates with 700 artists and operates with 45 employees across offices in New York, Los Angeles, Miami, and London. Duetti’s deals vary, with some transactions exceeding 7 million dollars.
In January, the company appointed Sachin Premnath (formerly of Netflix) as its general counsel, noting that one of Premnath’s responsibilities will be to “expand the types of music rights in which Duetti can engage.”
