Digital content licensing provider Artlist has acquired digital assets marketplace platform Motion Array for $65 million.
Motion Array’s video capabilities and technology tools, along with its video template options, will allow Artlist to expand its digital stock media portfolio for video creators and filmmakers.
The deal comes just six months after global investment giant KKR led a $48m investment in Artlist, which is a royalty-free music and sound effects company that licenses content to creators on YouTube and other platforms.
Israel-based Artlist, via its Artgrid product, also offers users a large catalog of stock footage (video clips).
Through this purchase, Artlist says that it will reach more than 6 million users worldwide and grow its catalog by more than half a million stock assets.
Motion Array’s multimedia catalog includes video templates, presets, plugins, transitions, motion graphics and photos, as well as efficient filmmaking tools such as editing software integrations, video collaboration, and portfolio builder.
Artlist states that its acquisition of Motion Array marks a “significant step towards the company becoming a comprehensive creative stock solution for video creators”.
Founded in 2013, Motion Array has over 40 employees and has developed a subscription-based creative marketplace and technology solution for video creators.
Artlist is a direct rival to the likes of Stockholm-based Epidemic Sound and Luxembourg-based Jamendo.
In June, both of those companies inked a deal to supply copyright-free music to the media library of Adobe, best known for its creative software and stock images.
Artlist, whose users pay a monthly subscription to access its library, recently added Mike Weissman, President of SoundCloud, to its board.
“We believe that Motion Array’s rich collection presents the perfect opportunity for Artlist to move towards becoming a one-stop-shop of creative stock assets.”
Ira Belsky, Artlist
Ira Belsky, co-founder and co-CEO of Artlist, said: “We believe that Motion Array’s rich collection presents the perfect opportunity for Artlist to move towards becoming a one-stop-shop of creative stock assets.
“The addition of Motion Array’s flexible tools and vast catalog, including the world’s largest Premiere Pro template catalog, will secure Artlist’s position as the leading company in the video creation industry.”
“This move is invaluable to Artlist as it helps us maintain our position as the go-to solution for creators in the constantly expanding world of video content.”
Itzik Elbaz, Artlist
Itzik Elbaz, co-founder and co-CEO of Artlist, added: “This move is invaluable to Artlist as it helps us maintain our position as the go-to solution for creators in the constantly expanding world of video content.
“We are excited to bring our high-quality curation capabilities to additional creative assets. Motion Array’s offerings will streamline our continued efforts to provide our subscribers with creative freedom and increase their video production value.”
“We feel that this merger is just the boost needed to turn Motion Array and Artlist into a true powerhouse marketplace that caters to all creators’ needs.”
Tyler Williams, Motion Array
Motion Array co-founder, Tyler Williams, added: “We feel that this merger is just the boost needed to turn Motion Array and Artlist into a true powerhouse marketplace that caters to all creators’ needs.
“This move is a fulfillment of the vision we had when we created our company 7 years ago and we are truly excited.”
“In Artlist we found kinship in the aim of making the lives of creators and editors easier through quality and affordable solutions.”
Eri Levin, Motion Array
Motion Array co-founder, Eri Levin, said: “In Artlist we found kinship in the aim of making the lives of creators and editors easier through quality and affordable solutions.
“We are very proud of Motion Array’s achievements in the industry and its impact on creators’ works as well as on the field of digital asset creation.”Music Business Worldwide
