Nettwerk Music Group

Nettwerk Music Group

Independent music label, management, publishing

Overview

Nettwerk Music Group operates as an independent music company with a three-part business: a record label, artist management, and music publishing. Musically, it signs artists and releases their recordings, manages creative and career development, and administers publishing rights for songs. The company works through partnerships and selective investments, acquiring catalogs and supporting artists to grow their careers and catalogs in the streaming era. Nettwerk differentiates itself by identifying talent early and maintaining artist-friendly, non-traditional growth paths—focusing on long-term partnerships, catalog strategy, and diversification across label, management, and publishing rather than pursuing a traditional IPO. Its goal is to be a durable, artist-first force in music by helping artists reach audiences, build sustainable careers, and maximize the value of their catalogs over time.

Significant Headcount Growth

About Nettwerk Music Group

Simplify's Rating
Why Nettwerk Music Group is rated
B-
Rated B on Competitive Edge
Rated B on Growth Potential
Rated C on Differentiation

Industries

Entertainment

Company Size

201-500

Company Stage

Growth Equity (Non-Venture Capital)

Total Funding

$310.3M

Headquarters

Vancouver, Canada

Founded

1984

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Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • Create Music invested over $300 million in February 2026, adding follow-on capital.
  • June 2026 signings and releases from TORUS, SNAYX, and Yumi Zouma show momentum.
  • Owen Lloyd, Katie Graham, and Ruth Wyatt strengthen UK and European catalog operations.

What critics are saying

  • February 2026 layoffs hit roughly 10% of staff, signaling post-deal operating pressure.
  • Create Music’s capital and infrastructure increase dependence on an outside platform for future growth.
  • If major artists defect, Nettwerk’s indie identity and buyout rationale weaken fast.

What makes Nettwerk Music Group unique

  • Nettwerk keeps McBride and Jowett controlling daily operations after February 2026 buyout.
  • Its label-management-publishing model spans artist development, catalog marketing, sync, and global distribution.
  • Four decades of A&R credibility still attracts acts like Paris Paloma, Ryan Oakes, and TORUS.

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Funding

Total Funding

$310.3M

Above

Industry Average

Funded Over

2 Rounds

Growth Equity Non VC funding comparison data is currently unavailable. We're working to provide this information soon!
Growth Equity Non VC Funding Comparison
Coming Soon

Benefits

Hybrid Work Options

Growth & Insights and Company News

Headcount

6 month growth

5%

1 year growth

5%

2 year growth

5%
RAMP (Radio and Music Pros)
Jul 17th, 2026
Promo motion at Beggars Group.

Promo motion at Beggars Group. - The Beggars Group of Labels (4AD, Matador Records, Rough Trade Records, XL Recordings and Young) are excited to announce two new newly created Radio and Music Discovery roles - Max Datner joins Beggars as Director of Radio and Music Discovery, and Ariana Mamnoon joins the team as Manager of Radio and Music Discovery. Datner (left) was previously Manager of National Promotion.at Nettwerk Music Group. Prior to that, he was a radio promoter with The Planetary Group. He has been working in radio since 2014 and is also a musician. Based in Philadelphia, Datner will oversee the department and be focused on traditional radio campaigns at Non-Comm and Commercial formats. Datner can now be reached at [email protected]. Mamnoon (right) was most recently with Stone's Throw as Radio & Brand Partnerships Coordinator. Prior to that, she was Promotions Director at UCLA Radio and a freelancer handling press and radio campaigns. She is the co-host of Temporal Cove on NTS Radio with and a member of the three-piece project untitled (halo). Mamnoon is based in Beggars' Los Angeles office and specializes in music discovery with new and emerging outlets along with established internet stations. She can be contacted at [email protected].

Citybiz
Mar 9th, 2026
citybiz+ Create Music Group, Backed by Ares and 2 Mile, Raises $450M

citybiz+ Create Music Group, backed by Ares and 2 Mile, raises $450M. March 9, 2026 Jonathan Strauss Hollywood, Calif.-based Create Music Group has announced the completion of a $450 million funding round consisting of new equity and debt capital, valuing the company at $2.2 billion. The company was founded in 2015 as CreateTV by the trio of CEO Jonathan Strauss, Chief Operating Officer Alexandre Williams and Chief Business Officer Wayne Hampton. Create today is a digitally native music, media and technology platform. The three still hold majority ownership of Create, with institutional investors Ares Management, New York-based 2 Mile and Flexpoint Ford holding minority stakes. Music industry veteran Charles Goldstuck is also an investor. The financing round also included expanded bank group support, with Truist Securities and Banc of California serving as joint lead arrangers. "This capital will not only accelerate our roadmap, expanding our footprint in media, IP and technology, but also empower our partners to build generational businesses that redefine culture and value creation across the global entertainment ecosystem," said Create co-founder and CEO Jonathan Strauss, adding that the company is opportunistically poised as the "future of media, technology, and creative ownership is being rewritten." Create's portfolio includes broke., a marketing-driven record label; Monstercat, an influential independent electronic music label with a global fan base; !K7 Music, a Berlin-based group with deep cultural heritage; Cr2 Records, a U.K. dance music platform; and Mau5trap, founded by Deadmau5. The funding deal follows Create's strategic $300 million investment in Canada's Nettwerk Music Group, a global independent record label that builds a following for artists within fan-connected communities. Nettwerk's artist networks include Vacations, Sarah McLachlan, SYML, Paris Paloma, Passenger and Old Crow Medicine Show. Create says it has invested more than $500 million across acquisitions, advances and other growth initiatives during the past year, as it seeks to position itself as a scaled co-owner and operator of enduring music businesses with global reach. "The music industry is as dynamic as it has ever been, with rapid growth in new consumption channels and means of creation, which is creating vast opportunities for agile, digital-first companies to reshape the status quo. In that context, this fundraise is an exciting milestone for Create and the product of a lot of hard work from our entire team over many years," said Create CFO Will Smith. The newly raised capital will support continued acquisitions, strategic investments, technology development and global expansion, reinforcing Create's long-term commitment to building the industry-defining platform for the world's leading music businesses and entrepreneurs, he added.

Billboard
Feb 6th, 2026
Create Music invests $300M in Nettwerk as Canadian label buys out investors

Create Music has invested $300 million in Canadian independent label Nettwerk to help its management buy out existing investors, including Flexpoint Ford, Beedie Capital and Vistara Growth. The deal increases ownership stakes for co-founders Terry McBride and Mark Jowett, who will continue leading day-to-day operations. Founded over 40 years ago in Vancouver, Nettwerk has built careers for prominent singer-songwriters. The company sold its publishing assets to Kobalt in 2016 and recapitalised in 2023 with new investment from Flexpoint Asset Opportunity Fund II. Create Music will provide Nettwerk with follow-on capital, support services, and access to its infrastructure and global distribution network. The announcement follows recent layoffs affecting around 10% of Nettwerk's workforce.

Music Business Worldwide
Oct 13th, 2025
Owen Lloyd to lead catalog marketing strategy and initiatives globally for Nettwerk Music Group

Nettwerk Music Group has appointed Owen Lloyd as its new Director of Catalogue Marketing and Development, marking the latest in a series of strategic hires for the independent label's growing UK operations.

Broken 8 Records
Apr 26th, 2025
Yumi Zouma Begin a New Chapter with Nettwerk and New Single

International alt-pop outfit Yumi Zouma have inked a deal with Nettwerk and dropped their first slice of new music.

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