Cutting Edge Media Music (CEMM) has acquired a majority interest in White Stork, the publishing company of award-winning UK composer Tom Howe.
CEMM did not disclose the financial terms of the investment, although it said that the deal is aimed at expanding the White Stork business.
CEMM’s collaboration with multi-instrumentalist Tom Howe has produced original music for over 80 Emmy and BAFTA-winning dramas and documentaries, including shows such as TedLasso, The Great British Bake Off and DaisyJones&TheSix, as well as major motion pictures, such as Warner Bros.WonderWoman and Legends ofTarzan.
As a songwriter, Howe has also written a number of international Top 40 hits. He most recently co-wrote the song Fought & Lost alongside Sam Ryder and Jamie Hartman that was featured in the penultimate episode of Ted Lasso’s final season.
“It’s great to be working with Cutting Edge Media Music and Tamsin Dove on this new venture. They both have so much experience and I’m hugely excited to see what we can accomplish together,” Howe said.
White Stork, which boasts studios in London and Los Angeles, will publish all of Tom Howe’s future work following the deal.
“This creative and strategic partnership brings Cutting Edge Media Music one step closer to its long-term goal of becoming the pre-eminent media music publisher and services provider in the world.”
Philip Moross, Cutting Edge Group
Cutting Edge Group founder and CEO Philip Moross added: “We are excited to be working with such a high-caliber talent as Tom Howe. This creative and strategic partnership brings Cutting Edge Media Music one step closer to its long-term goal of becoming the pre-eminent media music publisher and services provider in the world. I am thrilled to have Tamsin Dove on board leading the team, her expertise with leading international broadcasters as both licensor and licensee is a huge asset to our global teams.”
In addition to the stake sale between CEMM and White Stork, the pair also intend to form a joint venture led by Cutting Edge Chief Commercial Officer Tamsin Dove, who joined the company in September.
In her new role, Dove will lead bespoke music production and licensing for the group across CEMM’s London and LA offices and manage the diverse, hand-selected roster of award-winning composers.
Dove previously served as Head of Television for UK and APAC at global music publisher, Audio Network. In that role, she secured and managed deals with Amazon, BBC, ITV, C5, C4, Discovery, Disney, Turner, and Netflix. Dove has licensed music for major motion pictures like The 355, Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris, Logan, and successful TV shows including Married at First Sight, Upright, Emmerdale, Shetland, Four in a Bed, and Top of the Lake.
She has also worked closely with a number of musicians including; Rag’n’Bone Man, Tokio Myers, Maroon 5 and music legends Neil Diamond, The Proclaimers, and Earth, Wind & Fire.
“By combining Cutting Edge’s growing high-caliber back catalogue, with the bespoke music services under Tom Howe’s helm, we are on track for becoming the leading full-service music provider internationally.”
Tamsin Dove, Cutting Edge
“I am humbled and thrilled to be working with both Cutting Edge Media Group and Tom Howe and leading this new venture. By combining Cutting Edge’s growing high-caliber back catalogue, with the bespoke music services under Tom Howe’s helm, we are on track for becoming the leading full-service music provider internationally,” said Dove.
The acquisition of White Stork adds to CEMM’s extensive catalog of music from popular films and TV series, including Hollywood blockbusters such as The King’s Speech and Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, as well as high-profile video games like Cyberpunk 2077.
These assets are available for licensing for media and brands through the White Stork team.
CEMM is a unit of Cutting Edge Group, which provides music for different forms of media including film, televisions, video games, advertising and Broadway across its publishing, label, services, and marketing verticals. It owns and controls the music IP in some of the most popular media properties and franchises globally.
CEMM acts as a financier, publisher, record label and has provided a range of music services to over 1,000 feature films, tv shows, musical theatre productions and video games, including such films and television shows including Stranger Things, Bridgerton, The King’s Speech, Drive, Star Trek: Discovery, Fury, John Wick, Sicario, Whiplash, Hacksaw Moonlight Ridge, and The Walking Dead, as well as Broadway shows like Matilda, The Color Purple, Anastasia, and My Fair Lady.
CEMM’s brands include Lakeshore Records (Soundtrack Label), Music.Film (film & TV music licensing platform), Broadway Records (musical theater label), Cutting Edge Music Publishing (music publisher), 12on12 (specialty vinyl), CEG Analytics (royalty tracking & analysis), and most recently, White Stork (custom music house).
The acquisition of White Stork adds to CEMM’s extensive catalog of music from popular films, TV series, and video games. These assets are available for licensing through the White Stork team.
CEMM, a division of Cutting Edge Group, specializes in music for various media platforms and operates as a financier, publisher, and record label. The company has provided music services to numerous feature films, TV shows, musical theater productions, and video games. Their brands include Lakeshore Records, Music.Film, Broadway Records, Cutting Edge Music Publishing, 12on12, CEG Analytics, and the recently acquired White Stork.
CEMM’s acquisition of White Stork follows its eight-figure deal with pop songwriter and producer Jamie Hartman in May and the purchase of a major film music catalog from First Score Music Ltd. in March.
The company secured $125 million for music publishing rights acquisitions in collaboration with affiliates of Blantyre Capital in 2022 and obtained an additional $100 million from banks led by Pinnacle Financial Partners in February 2023.
