Beyond Music

Beyond Music, a Seoul-based music investment firm, has established a significant presence in the music intellectual property (IP) market since its founding in early 2021. The company was co-founded by CEO Jangwon Lee, a serial entrepreneur who previously established Mafia Company, a large digital music score platform in Asia, and KT Park (Park Geun-tae), a renowned hit songwriter. This partnership combines Lee's background in platform-based businesses and Park's deep industry experience in music creation. The firm operates on a 'buy and build' business model, focusing on acquiring large catalogs of high-quality, evergreen music IP and subsequently increasing their value. Their revenue is primarily generated from the copyright and neighboring rights royalties collected when their owned music is streamed or used in various media.

The company's core business involves purchasing the music rights of established songs and catalogs from artists and rights holders. With assets under management of nearly $400 million and a catalog of over 27,000 songs, Beyond Music has become a major capital provider in the Asian music industry. Its acquisition strategy targets proven hits with predictable cash flow, rather than new, unproven tracks. The firm actively works to revitalize its acquired assets through strategies like commissioning remakes, securing placements in films and advertisements, and leveraging performance marketing, which in turn can boost streaming traffic for both the new and original versions of the songs. Beyond Music has also employed data analytics and AI technology to aid in the valuation of music IP, aiming for more accurate assessments and revenue predictions.

Beyond Music has secured substantial funding to fuel its acquisitions, raising nearly $400 million since its inception, including a significant $170 million round in June 2023 led by its largest backer, Praxis Capital. These funds are explicitly used to purchase evergreen song rights and solidify its deal-closing capabilities. Initially focused on the Asian market, where it acquired major catalogs from entities like KNC Music, FNC Investment, and Interpark, the firm has expanded its ambitions globally. It has since made acquisitions in the North American market, purchasing the catalog of producer Greg Wells, and has entered the Latin Music space with a deal for Yandel's music rights. This demonstrates a strategic expansion beyond its home market to capitalize on the growth of non-Anglo music consumption worldwide.

Keywords: music IP investment, music rights acquisition, catalog management, asset management, music royalties, copyright investment, Jangwon Lee, KT Park, Praxis Capital, K-pop, music licensing, song catalog, neighboring rights, music finance, song valuation, royalty collection, Korean music, FNC Investment, Interpark Music, Greg Wells, Yandel