Music and Technology Experts Deborah Mannis-Gardner and Per Almqvist Launch AYO

New Venture in Music Copyright Management

Music and technology licensing experts Deborah Mannis-Gardner (Owner/President of DMG Clearances, Inc.) and Per Almqvist (Co-founder and former CEO of Tracklib) have officially launched a new venture named AYO Music Group.

The US-based AYO is positioned as “an active copyright administrator offering global management of publications, related rights, and recordings.”

Mission and Achievements

As highlighted in the launch announcement on Wednesday (Dec. 11), the company’s mission is to “organize and protect music copyrights while educating music owners on how to maximize their earnings through licensing opportunities.”

Since its soft launch earlier this year, AYO has reportedly built a catalog of songs “totaling over 1 billion streams,” including several tracks that have exceeded the 100 million stream mark.

Current clients span a diverse roster, including A$AP Ant, Bedrock, Che Smith, Cory Mo, David Forman Project, DJ Domingo, Dwayne Williams, Eric Reid, Hero The Band, Holy, John McCall, JT Money, Julianna Zahariou, Keyshawn Watts, Latrice Lens, MC Lyte, Michael Ramsey, Natalie Carr, Poucharod, R. Prophet, Rondo Robinson, Selam/Muzikawi, STREETRUNNER, Tawnted, True Master, Willie G, and the estates of Joseph Washington Jr., Julius Thomas, Michael Henderson, and Scott LaRocque.

Leadership and Expertise

Deborah Mannis-Gardner (Chair and Co-Founder of AYO) established DMG Clearances, Inc. in 1996, having worked on projects with high-profile artists including Drake, Tyler the Creator, DJ Khaled, Eminem, and many more. In 2023, she collaborated with Reservoir to clear samples for the release of De La Soul’s catalog on streaming platforms, earning recognition as one of Billboard’s R&B/Hip-Hop Power Players in 2023 and 2024.

Pär Almqvist, the CEO and co-founder of AYO, previously co-founded the sampling platform Tracklib in 2014. His prior venture, Spokn, was acquired in 2006, followed by his work in both the telecom and renewable energy sectors, where his companies were recognized as World Economic Forum Technology Pioneers.

Joining them is Stacy Haber (General Counsel, Co-Founder of AYO), who has significant experience in the music industry, alongside Kat McLean Daly (A&R, AYO), Bryson Nobles (Head of Data and Technology), Thomas Matheson (Head of Production), and Naomi Usher (Adjacent Rights Advisor, AYO), all bringing their extensive expertise to the team.

“Our team, representing diverse aspects of the music industry, shares a passion for putting creators first and educating artists, songwriters, and rights holders about the ins and outs of the business.”

Deborah Mannis-Gardner

“I’m thrilled to officially launch AYO with my incredible team,” Mannis-Gardner remarked. “Many people don’t realize how to access the money they’ve earned, and others miss out on opportunities due to inaccurate administrative reports. We are dedicated to overcoming these challenges by empowering rights holders and making a substantial impact going forward.”

“When Deborah and I began discussing AYO, it was a no-brainer to join forces and make our vision a reality.”

Pär Almqvist

Almqvist stated, “Every rights holder deserves to be fully informed and capable of creating a lasting legacy with their music. We’ve already started strong with a notable list of clients, and I eagerly anticipate our accomplishments as a team.”

“Mastering music copyright can be incredibly challenging, and our AYO team is committed to breaking down these barriers every day through education and support for copyright holders.”

Stacy Haber

Haber emphasized, “We’re not just launching a brand; we’re setting a new standard for full disclosure of music copyrights. I am excited to contribute to AYO’s mission and growth.”