Media and IP company A+E Networks has entered into a strategic partnership with music, film and television management company Range Media Partners.
The deal includes a “strategic minority investment” by A+E into Range Media Partners.
Range says that it “continues to be supported” by Point72 Ventures, which remains a minority investor.
The news follows Range Media Partners’ worldwide distribution deal inked with Capitol Music Group (CMG) and Virgin Music & Artist Label Services (Virgin) in June 2021.
Founded in 2020, Range Media Partners Range represents some of the biggest names in entertainment, including Bradley Cooper, Keira Knightley, Tom Hardy, M Night Shymalan, Michael Bay, Jack Harlow, PartyNextDoor, Midland, Cordae, Bazzi, Sean Douglas, Wale, HARV and Mariah Carey.
Range says that the strategic investment from A+E Networks will further expand its talent representation capabilities and the incubation of talent-affiliated consumer businesses, and allow for other growth avenues, including a significant investment in “the Web3 ecosystem”.
A+E Studios specializes in the creation, production, and distribution of scripted entertainment and also serves as a primary scripted programming supplier for the A+E Networks portfolio which includes A&E, Lifetime and The HISTORY Channel.
According to a media statement, the strategic partnership names A+E Studios, headed by President Barry Jossen, as co-production partner for scripted television projects at Range Media Partners.
The relationship also grants A+E Networks and its affiliated studios a first-look deal on factual television content for A+E’s unscripted content creation unit (e.g., Category 6 Media and Six West Media.)
Range Media Partners says that it “will enrich A+E Networks” by providing its business units with access to Range Media Partners’ talent representation systems and its “extensive” talent relationships.
The companies add that the partnership is expected to accelerate the global growth of A+E Networks and the expansion of Range Media Partners services in several ways, including developing the project pipeline for A+E Studios and A+E Networks’ Nonfiction Content Creation Unit (comprised of Category 6 Media and Six West Media) by aligning Range clients with strategic partnership opportunities.
Additionally, according to Range, the partnership will address what it calls “the growing desire” for music-related unscripted projects.
A+E Studios and Range Media Partners say that they already have several collaborative initiatives underway.
The Raine Group and Joe Gangitano and Adrian Perry of Covington & Burlington advised A+E Networks on the transaction.
Range Media Partners was advised by Robert Benson & Rahul Patel of King & Spalding LLP and the late Jerry Longarzo and Jeff Freid of Longarzo Vance Klevan Freid LLP.
“We are thrilled to partner with Peter Micelli and Range Media Partners, whose passion and creativity in pursuit of unlocking global value for artists and fostering a forward-thinking culture of innovation aligns with our vision of the future.”
Paul Buccieri, A+E Networks Group
Paul Buccieri, President & Chairman, A+E Networks Group, said: “We are thrilled to partner with Peter Micelli and Range Media Partners, whose passion and creativity in pursuit of unlocking global value for artists and fostering a forward-thinking culture of innovation aligns with our vision of the future.
“We were drawn to their impressive team and roster of entrepreneurially-minded talent and believe this investment will create strategic opportunities to accelerate the growth of our scripted and nonfiction content creation unit on a global scale.
“Our investment underscores both our confidence in the trajectory of the industry and more specifically, the role Range will play within it. This alignment will enable diversification of our storytelling and content, amplify our efforts to shift from curator to creator, and bolster our ultimate goal to become a global IP powerhouse.”
“We are privileged to be joined by the like-minded team at A+E Networks (some of whom we have worked with for decades), who share our passion for innovation, business strategy and compelling storytelling, as we enter this next chapter.”
Peter Micelli, Range Media
Range CEO Peter Micelli, said: “We are humbled to partner with remarkable artists, who are driven by the need to know more and do more.
“We are privileged to be joined by the like-minded team at A+E Networks (some of whom we have worked with for decades), who share our passion for innovation, business strategy and compelling storytelling, as we enter this next chapter.”
“We are proud to provide our services and creativity as a growth engine for Range’s expansive ambitions. Range Media Partners and A+E Studios have White House Doctor in development at Fox.”
A+E Studios
Barry Jossen, President, and Head of A+E Studios said: “A+E Studios is a proven supplier of high-quality television productions.
“We are proud to provide our services and creativity as a growth engine for Range’s expansive ambitions. Range Media Partners and A+E Studios have White House Doctor in development at Fox.
“We have a large roster of projects ready for the marketplace, all of which perfectly fit the Range Media Partners/A+E Studios strategic alliance of bringing together high-end artists to create and produce in a talent-friendly environment to bring their visions to the screen. We are thrilled.”
Music Business Worldwide