Universal Music Group Acquires 25.8% Stake in Chord Music Partners

Searchlight Capital Partners Invests in Chord Music Partners

August 14, 2025

Media & Entertainment

Funds advised by Searchlight Capital Partners have made a strategic growth investment in Chord Music Partners to support expansion of its recorded music and publishing catalogs and to accelerate acquisition activity. The investment will strengthen Chord's ability to identify and execute new music-IP acquisitions and support continued growth of its platform backed by strategic relationships including Universal Music Group.

WilliamsMarston Acquires Chord Advisors

September 9, 2021

Accounting & Tax

WilliamsMarston LLC has acquired Chord Advisors, LLC to accelerate the firm's national expansion and broaden its accounting, tax and technical accounting advisory capabilities. Chord Advisors, founded in 2012 and headquartered in Newport Beach, California, brings more than 30 professionals and ~500 clients, expanding WilliamsMarston's headcount to over 100 and adding presence in southern California and Silicon Valley.

Virgin Music Group Acquires Downtown Music Holdings

February 23, 2026

Media & Entertainment

Virgin Music Group (VMG) has completed its acquisition of Downtown Music Holdings, combining two major platforms that serve independent artists, labels and rights holders. The deal brings Downtown's distribution, publishing and artist/label services into VMG's global platform and names Pieter van Rijn as VMG Chief Operating Officer to lead integration and technology initiatives.

Francisco Partners Takes Controlling Stake in Kobalt

September 7, 2022

Media & Entertainment

Francisco Partners will take a controlling interest in Kobalt, the independent music publisher and music-technology company, with additional investments from MUSIC and Dundee Partners. The capital will support Kobalt's technology and creator services (including AMRA), expand its global footprint, and keep the current management team in place with Willard Ahdritz remaining as Chairman.

Kohlberg & Company Acquires 50% Stake in USIC; Partners Group Retains 50%

August 10, 2022

Infrastructure

Kohlberg & Company is acquiring a 50% stake in United States Infrastructure Corporation (USIC) while Partners Group will retain a 50% co-lead interest; funds managed by Neuberger Berman also joined the investment. The transaction values USIC at an enterprise value of USD 4.1 billion — USIC is a leading provider of utility locate services headquartered in Indianapolis with ~9,000 technicians performing roughly 80 million locates per year. The investors plan to support further growth through investments in sales and digital capabilities to capture demand driven by infrastructure stimulus and 5G densification.

Create Music Group Acquires !K7 Music

April 14, 2025

Media & Entertainment

Los Angeles-based Create Music Group (CMG) has acquired Berlin-based independent label and publisher !K7 Music, the label founded by the late Horst Weidenmüller and known for the DJ-Kicks series. CMG said it will preserve !K7’s independent ethos while leveraging its global infrastructure to expand artist services, distribution and catalog monetization.