{"id":251540,"date":"2026-02-20T16:05:05","date_gmt":"2026-02-20T16:05:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.musicbusinessworldwide.com\/?p=251540"},"modified":"2026-02-20T16:40:12","modified_gmt":"2026-02-20T16:40:12","slug":"virgin-music-group-completes-downtown-acquisition-pieter-van-rijn-named-coo-as-founder-justin-kalifowitz-steps-away","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.musicbusinessworldwide.com\/virgin-music-group-completes-downtown-acquisition-pieter-van-rijn-named-coo-as-founder-justin-kalifowitz-steps-away\/","title":{"rendered":"Virgin Music Group completes Downtown acquisition; Pieter van Rijn named COO as Downtown founder Justin Kalifowitz steps away"},"content":{"rendered":"

Virgin Music Group (VMG) announced on Friday (February 20) that it has completed its acquisition of Downtown Music Holdings LLC (Downtown).<\/p>\n

The closure follows the European Commission’s approval<\/a> of the deal last Friday (February 13), subject to Universal Music Group’s commitment to divest Downtown’s Curve royalty accounting business.<\/p>\n

UMG\u2019s Virgin Music Group first announced the transaction<\/a> in December 2024.<\/p>\n

Alongside the deal’s completion, it was announced that Pieter van Rijn<\/strong> has been appointed Chief Operating Officer of VMG, having been CEO of Downtown since last year.<\/p>\n

He will report to co-CEOs Nat Pastor and JT Myers and will continue to be based in Amsterdam.<\/p>\n

Downtown Founder Justin Kalifowitz confirmed he is stepping away from the company he founded in 2007. Andrew Bergman, previously Chairman of Downtown, will transition into a senior advisory role.<\/p>\n

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In a Founder\u2019s Letter shared on Friday (which you can read in full below), Kalifowitz reflected on Downtown’s origins: “When we first started Downtown’s publishing business, the music industry was in freefall,” he said.<\/p>\n

“Our first hit was the 2007 ringtone of the year \u2014 a phrase that now feels museum-worthy. CDs were collapsing, streaming hadn’t yet found its footing, and most of the conversation centered on what was being lost. We saw something different.”<\/p>\n

He added: “We believed more music would be created, not less. More entrepreneurs would enter the business, not fewer. More global participation. More direct relationships. The question wasn\u2019t how to protect what had been \u2014 it was how to build for what was coming.”<\/p>\n

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According to the announcement on Friday (February 20), the completion of the deal marks “a significant milestone in the creation of a global, end-to-end solution that meets the evolving needs of independent entrepreneurs, artists, and rights holders”.<\/p>\n

Initially established in 2007, Downtown collectively serves over 5,000<\/strong> business clients and more than four million creators in 145<\/strong> countries.<\/p>\n

Today, the company has core divisions across Artist & Label Services, Distribution, and Music Publishing. The company\u2019s portfolio of businesses includes FUGA, Downtown Artist & Label Services, CD Baby, Downtown Music Publishing and Songtrust.<\/p>\n

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VMG noted that with extensive leadership experience across both Downtown Music and FUGA, van Rijn has been a “key architect in the development of innovative, scalable services designed to empower the independent community”.<\/p>\n

The company added that as COO of Virgin Music Group, he will oversee global operations, tech, product, and strategic integration across the combined businesses, as well as “ensuring continuity for Downtown\u2019s clients, teams, and brands while unlocking new opportunities for growth and collaboration”.<\/p>\n

\n

\u201cPieter\u2019s appointment signals our intent to bring these businesses together thoughtfully and strategically.”<\/p>\n

Nat Pastor<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Nat Pastor\u00a0said: \u201cPieter\u2019s appointment signals our intent to bring these businesses together thoughtfully and strategically.<\/p>\n

“This is about making both Virgin Music Group and Downtown even better \u2014 preserving their distinct strengths while increasing the investment, technology and global resources available to independent entrepreneurs. Pieter\u2019s experience and leadership make him the right person to help guide us forward.\u201d<\/p>\n

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“I\u2019m grateful to Justin and Andrew for their vision in building Downtown, and to Nat and JT for their trust as we enter this next chapter.”<\/p>\n

Pieter van Rijn<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Pieter van Rijn\u00a0said: \u201cThis combination enhances the choice, service and global reach available to the independent community.<\/p>\n

“I\u2019m grateful to Justin and Andrew for their vision in building Downtown, and to Nat and JT for their trust as we enter this next chapter. Our focus is clear: strengthen what makes both companies special and deliver even greater value to the entrepreneurs we serve.\u201d<\/p>\n

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\u201cToday recognizes the extraordinary company the Downtown team has built.”<\/p>\n

JT Myers\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

JT Myers\u00a0said: \u201cToday recognizes the extraordinary company the Downtown team has built. Justin\u2019s pioneering spirit \u2014 and the leadership of Andrew, Pieter and colleagues worldwide \u2014 created an organization defined by its powerful belief in independent creators.<\/p>\n

“We deeply respect what this team has built and are committed to backing it, protecting what makes Downtown successful, and expanding opportunities for the global independent community.\u201d<\/p>\n

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“Justin and I look forward to cheering on Nat, JT, Pieter and the combined teams as they continue to create new opportunities for the global music community.\u201d<\/p>\n

Andrew Bergman\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Andrew Bergman\u00a0said: \u201cI\u2019m extremely proud of the culture we created, grounded in trust, long-term partnership and the constant pursuit of excellence. Pieter van Rijn epitomizes that culture and watching my friend grow into such an exceptional leader has been extremely gratifying.<\/p>\n

“Justin and I look forward to cheering on Nat, JT, Pieter and the combined teams as they continue to create new opportunities for the global music community.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n

VMG noted that, since becoming Downtown\u2019s CEO in 2024, Pieter van Rijn has been responsible for leading Downtown Music\u2019s global business and professional services, spanning distribution, artist and label services, publishing administration, neighbouring rights and sync licensing.<\/p>\n

Prior to becoming President of Downtown Music in July 2022, he served as CEO of global music distributor FUGA, joining in 2014 and guiding the company through “a period of significant international expansion and technological innovation,”<\/p>\n

Under his leadership, FUGA grew to serve more than 900 industry clients across over 50 countries.<\/p>\n

Originally headquartered in Amsterdam, van Rijn expanded the company\u2019s global footprint with hubs across EMEA, North America, LATAM and APAC, transforming FUGA into a full-service label services partner offering marketing, sync, royalty accounting, physical distribution, audience development and advanced data insights, “while maintaining its reputation as a leading music-technology platform”.<\/p>\n

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You can read Justin Kalifowitz’s message in full below:<\/p>\n

When we first started Downtown\u2019s publishing business, the music industry was in freefall. Our first hit was the 2007 ringtone of the year \u2014 a phrase that now feels museum-worthy. CDs were collapsing, streaming hadn\u2019t yet found its footing, and most of the conversation centered on what was being lost.<\/em><\/p>\n

We saw something different.<\/em><\/p>\n

We believed more music would be created, not less. More entrepreneurs would enter the business, not fewer. More global participation. More direct relationships. The question wasn\u2019t how to protect what had been \u2014 it was how to build for what was coming.<\/em><\/p>\n

Downtown grew up inside that belief. We weren\u2019t perfect, but we were always tinkering \u2014 questioning, adjusting, improving. Trying to serve artists, entrepreneurs, and partners better today than the day before. Service beats control. Infrastructure beats trend-chasing. Culture beats hierarchy.<\/em><\/p>\n

Of all the changes over the past two decades, the one I believe we helped shape most is mindset \u2014 that creators deserve choice, that independence can scale, that service is not a weakness but a strategy.<\/em><\/p>\n

What I\u2019m personally most proud of isn\u2019t a catalog, an acquisition, or a headline. It\u2019s our people. The operators who showed up every day and did the work. The alumni who now sit across this industry and beyond. The partners who trusted us. The creators who chose us. Nearly two decades later, that\u2019s the real story.<\/em><\/p>\n

To everyone who has been part of the journey \u2014 and especially those running with us since the very beginning \u2014 thank you.<\/em><\/p>\n

Andrew and I step away proud of what we\u2019ve built together and confident in the leadership and culture that define Downtown today. We congratulate our good friend Pieter on his new role and wish Nat, JT, and the broader Virgin team nothing but the best as they carry the business forward into its next chapter.<\/em><\/p>\n

Companies evolve. Markets shift. Strong cultures endure.<\/em><\/p>\n

I know this is only Downtown\u2019s story \u2014 so far.<\/em><\/p>\n

Justin<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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