US-based online music rights marketplace Royalty Exchange has named Anthony Martini as its new CEO, effective immediately.
He replaces founding CEO Matthew Smith, who will remain with the company as Chairman.
Martini began his career as an artist manager, including a senior role at Crush Management, where he discovered and developed rapper Tyga and other acts.
He later joined music licensing platform Jingle Punks, where he played an instrumental role in its sale to Canadian publisher Anthem Entertainment.
Most recently, Martini founded independent record label Commission Records, signing acts such as Lil’ Dicky and MadeinTYO.
He sold a majority stake in the company to Big Noise in 2019.
Last year, Royalty Exchange, which counts 27,000 registered investors, marked 1,000 catalog transactions completed across its marketplace.
Royalty Exchange recently expanded its marketplace with a new section called The eXchange where artists can set their own price for their catalogs and get offers directly from potential investors.
Royalty Exchange has also recently partnered with digital distributor Vydia, which has chosen Royalty Exchange’s online marketplace to fund advances for independent labels and artists using its platform.
Under the partnership, labels and artists using Vydia’s platform to distribute their music can request an advance on their future royalties, which Royalty Exchange’s community of investors will fulfill.
As a first test of this program, Vydia cites an example of an artist requesting a $400,000 advance in return for a $571,000 repayment. The auction bid the advance up to $444,000.
“He has the experience, vision, drive, and relationships – not to mention charisma – to lead Royalty Exchange into its next chapter.”
Matthew Smith, Royalty Exchange
Royalty Exchange founder and chairman Matthew Smith, said: “I’m incredibly happy that we found Anthony and that he agreed to step into the CEO role.
“He has the experience, vision, drive, and relationships – not to mention charisma – to lead Royalty Exchange into its next chapter.”
“Royalty Exchange is disrupting the financial landscape of the music business in favor of those who actually create the value in this industry – the artists. That’s a mission I can get behind and take to the next level.”
Anthony Martini
Martini said: “I joined Royalty Exchange because it’s the only company built to serve all artists, not just the most successful few.
“Superstar artists already make plenty of money, so they shouldn’t be the only ones to profit from today’s music catalog gold rush. Our marketplace allows any artist, big or small, to set their own terms and tap into this unprecedented demand for music royalties.”
Added Martini: “I want to give artists the ability to bet on themselves, without interference or going into debt or giving up control of their artistic vision.
“It’s a long-overdue disruption to the traditional advance model in this business, and I can’t wait to show the world what we’ve got in store.”
“I’ve always enjoyed the thrill of finding the next big artist, but this time I’ve found the next big company.
“Royalty Exchange is disrupting the financial landscape of the music business in favor of those who actually create the value in this industry – the artists. That’s a mission I can get behind and take to the next level.”
Music Business Worldwide