Sony Music Publishing has acquired “a significant stake” in Elements Music, a Finland-based independent music publisher with a catalog of about 10,000 compositions.
Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. The transaction includes a long-term creative partnership that will connect Elements’ roster with Sony Music Publishing‘s global operations while maintaining the Finnish company’s business operations and local support through SMP Scandinavia.
Elements Music, founded in 2005, represents songwriters including Axel Axel Ehnstrom, Johannes Brotherus (KUUMAA), OLGA Jonas Olsson, Timo Kiiskinen, Kyosti Salokorpi, Samuli Sirvio and BESS. Its catalog also contains works from Finnish acts Eppu Normaali, Yö and Popeda.
Tommi Tuomainen and Eero Tolppanen, who own Elements Music, said: “We are proud and excited about this collaboration, which is a significant milestone for the entire Finnish music industry. It is also essential that SMP shares our view of creator-driven publishing.”
“Artificial intelligence and global platforms are changing the ways music is used and how compensation models work, and it is important that our partner has enough influence and resources to defend creative professionals.”
Tommi Tuomainen and Eero Tolppanen, Elements Music
“Artificial intelligence and global platforms are changing the ways music is used and how compensation models work, and it is important that our partner has enough influence and resources to defend creative professionals. Through this deal, the position of Finnish music creators and the future of their works are now better protected.”
Johnny Tennander, Managing Director of Sony Music Publishing Scandinavia, added: “We’ve always admired what Tommi, Eero and the Elements team have built up in Finland, it’s truly impressive what they have achieved. Having had a great dialogue for a long time, this feels like a natural next step for both of us and we are very proud and excited to welcome Elements to the SMP family.”
Guy Henderson, President, International, Sony Music Publishing, said: “It is such a pleasure to welcome Tommi, Eero and the Elements team to SMP. With Tommi and Eeros’ domestic credibility and their renowned creativity, together with SMP’s international reach, we look forward to nurturing and growing the careers of their incredible roster of songwriters in Finland and around the globe.”
“With Tommi and Eeros’ domestic credibility and their renowned creativity, together with SMP’s international reach, we look forward to nurturing and growing the careers of their incredible roster of songwriters in Finland and around the globe.”
Guy Henderson, Sony Music Publishing
The development marks SMP’s latest investment after its French unit, alongside Sony Music France, in July acquired Lusafrica and Africa Nostra, a long-established label and publishing house dedicated to promoting Lusophone (Portuguese-speaking) and African artists worldwide.
In June, SMP acquired Hipgnosis Songs Group LLC, previously known as Big Deal Music, from Blackstone’s Recognition Music Group. Big Deal Music was acquired by Hipgnosis Songs Fund in September 2020. As well as bringing 4,400 copyrights into Hipgnosis, that deal included the company’s US publishing admin business, Words & Music.
As MBW noted, these assets have now been acquired by SMP, including the 4,400 copyrights. They include cuts in songs recorded by Shawn Mendes, Panic! At the Disco, and One Direction.
Music Business Worldwide
