UK-headquartered Multimedia Music just announced its latest acquisition in the film and TV music rights space.
The company has closed what it says is a “mid to high’ seven-figure deal to acquire the film music catalog of veteran movie and TV composer J. Peter Robinson.
Robinson’s body of work includes films Wayne’s World, Cocktail, Encino Man and hit TV series Charmed, among numerous others.
Multimedia Music says it has deployed over $130 million on acquisitions since launching in late 2021.
The company, founded by industry veterans Phil Hope and James Gibb, has raised $200 million in two funding rounds, from Metropolitan Partners Group, Bardin Hill, Pinnacle Bank and Regions Bank.
Classically trained at the Royal Academy of Music in London, J Peter Robinson began his recording career in London as the pianist for Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice on the original album recording of Jesus Christ Superstar.
He achieved his first major break in film composition when the late John Schlesinger called on him to create the score to The Believers.
He then composed the score to Philip Noyce’s action-thriller Blind Fury, which in turn led to Cocktail, his first project with New Zealand director Roger Donaldson. These films were followed by the successful comedies Wayne’s World and Encino Man.
Robinson also toured as a rock and roll musician, in a career that spanned more than 20 years and included an eight-year stint as Phil Collins’ keyboard player.
He previously collaborated as a writer, arranger, and/or co-producer or co-songwriter with Collins, as well as Eric Clapton, Al Stewart, Quatermass, Stanley Clarke, Berlin, and Shawn Phillips.
MMM’s acquisition of Robinson’s catalog follows the company’s acquisition in June of a stake in Steven Spielberg’s Amblin Partners.
In February of this year, Multimedia closed an eight-figure deal for the music master and publishing rights of the entire catalog of STX Entertainment.
The company’s other deals include the Atlantic Screen Music catalog and catalogs from composers including James Newton Howard, Tyler Bates, David Buckley, Trevor Morris, Michael Corcoran and Sean Callery.
“We are delighted to have secured this deal to acquire the income streams from a set of high quality film and TV titles from J Peter Robinson to add to our ever growing and diverse catalog.”
Phil Hope, MMM
“We are delighted to have secured this deal to acquire the income streams from a set of high-quality film and TV titles from J Peter Robinson to add to our ever growing and diverse catalog,” said MMM CEO Phil Hope.
MBW has previously noted that copyrights belonging to composers for film and TV are becoming big business.
Other companies operating in the space include Cutting Edge Media Music, which recently acquired a majority interest in White Stork, the publishing company of UK composer Tom Howe.
CEMM 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.Music Business Worldwide
