Indie record label, publisher and management firm Position Music has acquired part of the publishing catalog of French artist, DJ and producer Gesaffelstein.
Under the deal, Los Angeles-headquartered Position will own and administer the publishing rights of Gesaffelstein’s catalog prior to his deal with Sony Music Publishing. Gesaffelstein signed with Sony’s Columbia Records in 2018. Position will own publishing rights to Gesaffelstein’s breakout 2013 debut album Aleph.
On top of the publishing catalog, Position has acquired the writer, artist and producer royalties of Gesaffelstein’s entire catalog, including his 2019 album Hyperion, which features the multi-Platinum hit Lost In The Fire ft. The Weeknd, as well as features with HAIM and Pharrell Williams.
It also includes his collaborations with The Weeknd on tracks including I Was Never There and Hurt You, as well as his production work on Kanye West’s Black Skinhead. Gesaffelstein has also worked with A$AP Rocky, Daft Punk, Electric Youth and Lil Nas X, among others.
Gesaffelstein retains his future royalties.
Jimmy Mikaoui of Mil3s Entertainment and Benji Vermeil of Jab Music brokered the deal. Position Music was represented by Tim Mandelbaum and Cynthia Katz of Fox Rothschild, while Gesaffelstein (legal name Mike Levy) was represented by David Jacobs and Ted Harris of Grubman Shire Meiselas & Sacks.
Gesaffelstein has been releasing music since 2008, and has become a mainstay of music festivals, including multiple appearances at Coachella. He is slated to appear at the California festival again in 2024.
“The Gesaffelstein catalog is an incredible acquisition. This marks the beginning of a new chapter for us when it comes to acquiring high-profile publishing and record catalogs,” Position Music President and CEO Tyler Bacon said in a statement.
“Gesaffelstein is an immensely-respected, aggressive electronic artist that is also highly sought after in sync. This is a perfect combination for Position Music. The team and I are proud to represent Gesaffelstein and consider it an honor that Mike would entrust his catalog to us.”
“The Gesaffelstein catalog is an incredible acquisition. This marks the beginning of a new chapter for us when it comes to acquiring high-profile publishing and record catalogs.”
Tyler Bacon, Position Music
Gesaffelstein’s music recently appeared in John Wick: Chapter 4 and has been used in ads for brands such as Giorgio Armani, Toyota, BMW, Johnnie Walker and others.
Founded by Tyler Bacon in 1999, Position Music runs a music label, offers artist management services and specializes in publishing as well as sync.
The company last year sold a minority stake to Vesper, a private investment firm whose founders were previously involved with another firm that invested in Kobalt Music.
Also last year, Position signed a distribution deal with Universal Music Group-owned Virgin Music, under which Virgin distributes Position’s existing catalog and its new releases, and assists with marketing and promoting Position’s frontline label roster.Music Business Worldwide
