New York-based music and entertainment investment firm Influence Media Partners has launched a new fund to invest in what it describes as “award-winning catalogs of some of music’s most influential female music creators”.
The new fund carries an initial value of up to $100 million and has been established in partnership with independent professional retirement services company Municipal Employment Retirement System (MERS of Michigan).
This news marks Influence Media’s latest venture in music copyrights, following its involvement in Warner & Tempo Music Investments’ acquisition of copyrights from Jeff Bhasker, Shane McAnally and Ben Rector back in December 2019.
Influence Media is led by Founder and Co-Managing Partner Lylette Pizarro, and Co-Managing Partner Lynn Hazan.
In media statement, Influence Media says that it will manage the copyrights it seeks to invest in using the new fund, drawing on its leadership team’s “vast experience on all sides of the recorded music monetization spectrum.”
Prior to founding Influence Media, Pizarro spent over a decade “monetizing well-known music copyrights” with blue-chip brands for ads that aired during events including the Grammy Awards and the Super Bowl.
Hazan, meanwhile, served a combined 15 years as General Manager & CFO of Epic Records and prior to that, RED Music.
Influence Media is also supported by Founding Advisors Rene McLean (CEO, SLANG) and Jon Jashni (Principal, Raintree Ventures).
“As a proud female-founded investment platform, Influence Media is heavily focused on partnering with prolific female artists and songwriters.”
Lylette Pizarro, Influence Media
Lylette Pizarro, Founder and Co-Managing Partner of Influence Media, said: “As a proud female-founded investment platform, Influence Media is heavily focused on partnering with prolific female artists and songwriters — who have written culturally impactful and proven songs — through the support of MERS of Michigan.”
“It’s our core belief that female equity is just as important as female equality, so we’re excited to start teaming up with game-changing creators to introduce their iconic copyrights to even wider audiences.”
Lynn Hazan, Influence Media
Lynn Hazan, Co-Managing Partner of Influence Media, added: “It’s our core belief that female equity is just as important as female equality, so we’re excited to start teaming up with game-changing creators to introduce their iconic copyrights to even wider audiences.
“The events of the past 12 months have only reinforced the tremendous value of music, and our aim at Influence Media is to ensure that the human element doesn’t get lost.”
“Lynn and Lylette are two powerhouse women entrepreneurs who have the skill to identify quality opportunities and will work tirelessly to add value to their artist partners’ copyrights.”
Jeb Burns, (MERS) of Michigan
Jeb Burns, Chief Investment Officer, Municipal Employment Retirement System (MERS) of Michigan, said: “We’re thrilled to be joining forces with the Influence Media team to empower some of the most impactful creatives working in music today.
“Lynn and Lylette are two powerhouse women entrepreneurs who have the skill to identify quality opportunities and will work tirelessly to add value to their artist partners’ copyrights.
“Investing in the fast-growing audio streaming market, which is expected to reach $60 billion globally by 2026, will help MERS meet its long-term objectives.”Music Business Worldwide