Create Music Group forms joint venture with Jonnyshipes' GoodTalk. April 22, 2026 Create Music Group has agreed to form a joint venture with GoodTalk, an entertainment company founded by American record executive Jonnyshipes. Jonnyshipes launched GoodTalk after selling the catalog of his independent record label Cinematic Music Group to Interscope Geffen in a deal reported to be worth eight figures. The new joint venture pairs Create's global infrastructure across distribution, marketing, and data infrastructure with GoodTalk's "selective, development-first approach," according to a press release. The companies said the structure of the joint venture, which they described as a "co-release model," is designed to grow emerging talent while keeping their creative independence. Jonathan Strauss, Founder and CEO of Create Music Group, said: "Jonnyshipes has always had a clear instinct for where culture is moving. This partnership is about supporting that vision and helping it reach a broader audience without losing what makes it distinct." "Jonnyshipes has always had a clear instinct for where culture is moving. This partnership is about supporting that vision and helping it reach a broader audience without losing what makes it distinct." Jonathan Strauss, Create Music Group Jonnyshipes added: "Artists need development now more than ever. With over 100,000 new songs uploaded every day on DSPs, cutting through takes more than momentum. "GoodTalk was built to develop talent from the ground up and create a real connection between artist and fan. Partnering with Create allows us to scale that approach without compromising it." "Artists need development now more than ever. With over 100,000 new songs uploaded every day on DSPs, cutting through takes more than momentum." Jonnyshipes, Goodtalk Artists on GoodTalk's roster includes Skaiwater and Judah Weston & ISO Keys. The company also operates JumpStart Distribution, a talent incubator that works with early-stage talent. Chris Herche, SVP / Music, Operations and Marketing at Create Music Group, said: "Getting the opportunity to reunite with Jonnyshipes at Create is really a dream come true." "We had a successful track record in the past, working together to build artists and shape culture, and this new joint venture allows us to bring that experience in a bigger, more impactful way within Create Music Group." Create says it works with more than 17,000 clients across a portfolio of independent labels. "We had a successful track record in the past, working together to build artists and shape culture, and this new joint venture allows us to bring that experience in a bigger, more impactful way within Create Music Group." Chris Herche, Create Music Group Last month, Create secured over $450 million of new equity and debt capital in its latest funding round to support its continued expansion. The round valued the Los Angeles-headquartered company at $2.2 billion. The company remains majority-owned by its founders, with institutional investors Ares Management, 2 Mile, and Flexpoint Ford each holding minority stakes. The financing round also included expanded bank group support, with Truist Securities and Banc of California serving as Joint Lead Arrangers. Nearly two years ago, Create secured a $165 million minority investment round led by private equity firm Flexpoint Ford, which valued the company at $1 billion at the time. Also, last month, Create disclosed that it had invested more than $500 million across acquisitions, advances, and other growth initiatives over the past 12 months alone. Create said that this M&A activity has positioned it "as a scaled co-owner and operator of enduring music businesses with global reach". Create acquired independent electronic label Monstercat in May 2025, Berlin-based label group !K7 Music in April 2025, and UK dance music company Cr2 Records in December 2025, while striking catalog buyouts with the likes of Pack Records and Deadmau5. In February, Create made a strategic investment in Vancouver-headquartered indie Nettwerk Music Group. The same month, it entered into a "multi-million dollar" joint venture label called dai + drm with Romel Murphy, manager of AI musician Xania Monet. Music Business Worldwide

Soundlink raises a $2 million seed round led by Create Music Group to expand its music marketing platform and social media stream attribution technology.

Music marketing startup Soundlink has raised its first outside capital since its launch in June 2025 in a $2 million seed round led by asset management and funding company Create Music Group. Soundlink will use the seed capital to grow its product and engineering team, which is fully distributed across Latin America, Asia, and Europe. […]