Photo Credit: BMG
On the heels of high-profile catalog plays from Reservoir Media, Multimedia Music, and Litmus Music earlier this week, Warner Music Group- and BlackRock-backed Influence Media Partners has invested in the music IP of hip-hop superstar Logic in an “eight-figure deal.”
New York City-based Influence Media, which announced in February of 2022 that it had obtained $750 million for catalog investments, unveiled its newest acquisition this morning, via a formal release that was emailed to DMN. According to the purchasing company – which previously revealed goals of taking interests in “modern evergreens” and the work of “female artists and songwriters, with an emphasis on diversity” – today’s transaction extends to “185 titles.”
And while four-year-old Influence (like most of the above-mentioned catalog investors) opted not to disclose in its announcement message the exact ownership details at hand, higher-ups did acknowledge the involved music’s commercial prominence.
Said music includes 33-year-old Logic’s “1-800-273-8255” (which features Alessia Cara and Khalid and has about 1.25 billion Spotify streams), “Homicide” (featuring Eminem and boasting close to 500 million Spotify streams), and “Everyday” (featuring Marshmello and with around 517 million Spotify streams to its credit). Besides recording the songs, Rockville, Maryland-born Logic wrote and/or produced the efforts.
In addition to communicating that the agreement with Logic “further solidifies Influence Media’s investment in the future of hip-hop,” the catalog buyer highlighted its objective of continuing “to expand the impact of Logic’s contribution on pop culture.”
Elaborating upon the goal, Influence Media founding advisor and partner Rene McLean relayed in part: “Logic has made a tangible impact not only on the music charts, but on culture, and his commitment to destigmatizing and raising awareness around mental health issues is admirable. Influence Media is proud to partner with Logic to ensure his powerful body of work is heard for generations to come.”
Meanwhile, in comments of his own, Logic (who signed with BMG in 2022 and released his first project under the multi-album deal in February of 2023) said in part: “It’s important to me that the positive messages of my music continue to reach new audiences, and I’m excited to partner with Rene and the Influence Media Partners team to make a further impact through creativity.”
Last year, Influence Media acquired the recorded and/or publishing catalogs of Future, Blake Shelton (who also formed a joint venture with the company), and veteran songwriter Skyler Stonestreet. Beyond these purchases and Logic’s music-IP sale, reports have suggested that blockbuster plays involving the work of Michael Jackson and Queen could be on the way.
