Cutting Edge<\/b>, led by CEO Philip Moross<\/b>, said it has acquired both the publishing and master rights to AMC Studios\u2019 entire TV music library for an undisclosed amount.<\/p>\n
The compositions and recordings from the latest deal join CEG\u2019s total portfolio of over 400,000<\/strong> owned and\/or managed media music rights, which it says is valued at more than USD $1 billion.<\/strong><\/p>\n Cutting Edge Group completed<\/a>\u00a0a\u00a0USD $500 million\u00a0<\/strong>debt refinancing in April last year, with a syndicate of four banks led by US-based Fifth Third Bank and Toronto-headquartered private investment firm, Northleaf Capital Partners.<\/p>\n Cutting Edge said at the time that it had already identified a \u201ccirca\u00a0USD $1.5 billion<\/strong>\u00a0pipeline\u201d of potential investments.<\/p>\n The transaction marks the latest expansion for Cutting Edge following its partnership<\/a> with Warner Bros. Discovery <\/b>in January to create a joint venture through which it now co-owns and co-manages the studio\u2019s vast catalog of film and TV music, spanning almost a century.<\/p>\n The company’s latest acquisition covers music from AMC’s original programming over the past decade. <\/i><\/p>\n The Walking Dead<\/i> ran for 11 seasons and 177 episodes. The franchise has expanded into multiple spin-offs including The Walking Dead: Dead City<\/i> and The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon.<\/i><\/p>\n Other assets in the deal include Anne Rice\u2019s Interview With The Vampire, Anne Rice\u2019s Mayfair Witches, Into the Badlands and Dark Winds.<\/i><\/p>\n The deal also sees CEG secure rights to music from future<\/em> seasons of existing franchises The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon, <\/i>premiering in September, Anne Rice’s The Vampire Lestat, <\/i>expected in 2026, Anne Rice\u2019s Talamasca: The Secret Order<\/i>, premiering in October, and a new Immortal Universe <\/i>TV series.<\/p>\n According to Cutting Edge, under the deal, AMC Networks <\/b>will continue to use the music within AMC Studios\u2019 series \u201cin perpetuity.\u201d<\/p>\n Commenting on the latest deal, Tara Finegan<\/b>, COO of Cutting Edge Group, said: \u201cAMC Studios\u2019 catalogue represents some of the finest storytelling in modern television and we are honoured to become custodians of the remarkable music behind it.<\/p>\n \u201cBeing a record label partner to AMC since 2016 through our soundtrack division, Lakeshore<\/b> Records<\/b>, and having released the soundtrack album of Bear<\/b> McCreary<\/b>\u2019s iconic The Walking Dead<\/i> score, we have first-hand experience with how valuable and long lasting this studio\u2019s catalogue is and we look forward to carrying this extraordinary body of work into its next chapter.\u201d<\/p>\n Tara Finegan, Cutting Edge Group<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n Tim Hegarty<\/b>, Head of M&A at Cutting Edge Group, said: \u201cThis investment reflects our unwavering commitment to securing the very best music rights in the media & entertainment industry.<\/p>\n “Our ability to complete deals of this caliber is testament to the reputation we have established within the Film and TV industry over the past decades.\u201d<\/p>\n Tim Hegarty<\/b>, Cutting Edge Group<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n \u201cWe have a deep conviction in this subsector of the music copyrights market, having completed 25 acquisitions in just four years, and are confident we can grow the audience and revenue potential of the portfolio by utilizing our team\u2019s specialist experience and operating expertise.\u201d<\/p>\n Dawn Botti<\/b>, EVP of Legal and Business Affairs for AMC Networks, added: \u201cMusic plays such an important and foundational role in our premium scripted series and their enduring impact on viewers.<\/p>\n “We are excited to partner with Cutting Edge, true experts in the use and monetization of the type of original and high-quality music that is at the heart of our shows.<\/p>\n \u201cThe agreement will allow us to participate in Cutting Edge\u2019s efforts to maximize the value of this IP with no disruption to our core business as we retain the right to use the music within past, present and future productions.\u201d<\/p>\n “We are excited to partner with Cutting Edge, true experts in the use and monetization of the type of original and high-quality music that is at the heart of our shows.\u201d<\/p>\n Dawn Botti<\/b>, AMC Networks<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Other deals struck by Cutting Edge include, in 2022, a partnership with<\/a>\u00a0affiliates of London-based Blantyre Capital in a deal that secured\u00a0$125 million<\/strong>\u00a0for acquisitions of music publishing rights from composers who write music for film and TV.<\/p>\n In February 2023,\u00a0Cutting Edge secured<\/a>\u00a0another\u00a0$100 million<\/strong>\u00a0from banks led by Nashville-based Pinnacle Financial Partners.<\/p>\n Also in February 2023 the company\u00a0announced a joint venture<\/a>\u00a0with Village Roadshow Entertainment Group, parent company of Village Roadshow Pictures and Village Roadshow Television.<\/p>\n In May 2023, Cutting Edge stepped into the world of pop music,\u00a0striking a deal<\/a>\u00a0with prominent songwriter and producer Jamie Hartman, who\u2019s written or co-written numerous hits for artists such as Lewis Capaldi, Celeste, Calvin Harris, Rag\u2019n\u2019Bone Man and the Backstreet Boys, among many others.<\/p>\n\n
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