Create Music Acquires Monstercat—Tacking Another Indie Label to the Portfolio

Photo Credit: Kadyn Pierce

Create Music Group has acquired Canadian independent label Monstercat—tacking on yet another indie label to its portfolio. The move closely follows the acquisition of !K7 and Deadmau5’s catalog.

Monstercat has staff based in Vancouver, Toronto, and Los Angeles and has a reputation as an artist-first brand. Since launching, the brand expanded to encompass three labels including Uncaged, Instinct, and Silk. Artists who have released with Monstercat in the past include Kaskade, Koven, DJ Diesel, Alan Walker, Vicetone, ATTLAS, Shingo Nakamura, WHIPPED CREAM, Virtual Riot, and OCULA.

While Monstercat is now under the Create Music Group umbrella, it will continue independent operations under President Daniel Turcotte, Vice President Orri Sachar, and Director of Finance Rob Hill. The brand’s founders Mike Darlington and Ari Paunonen will remain involved in advisory roles. Create Music says it plans to invest another $50 million in artist development, advances, and platform support over the next two years.

“Our mission has always been to build sustainable, long-term careers for exceptional artists,” shares Daniel Turcotte, President of Monstercat. “Create gives us the reach and support to do that at a larger scale, without changing what makes Monstercat special. We’re still artist-first—only now with more tools to serve them.”

“Monstercat is everything an independent label should strive to be—exclusive, globally trusted, and capable of breaking artists and songs at the highest levels. Mike, Ari, Daniel, Orri, and the entire Monstercat team have built a culture and community at a scale rarely achieved in the music industry,” adds Jonathan Strauss, Co-Founder & CEO of Create Music Group. “We are excited to support their mission.”

Aside from EDM releases, Monstercat is also bringing its expertise in video game brands including Rocket League, Beat Saber, Fortnite, and Roblox. Create Music Group will also expand Monstercat Gold, the label’s subscription-based sync licensing service for content creators on YouTube and Twitch.

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