The scoop: RouteNote is expanding its premium arm, RouteNote Select, as it looks to acquire and invest in music IP assets — signaling a deeper move into catalog ownership and long-term rights management.
Why it matters
- Music IP has become a hot asset class for institutional investors.
- Owning rights — not just distributing music — offers recurring, predictable revenue.
- Independent distributors are increasingly competing with major labels and private equity for catalogs.
The big picture
RouteNote Select operates as the higher-touch, invite-only tier of RouteNote’s distribution platform, offering marketing, funding and strategic support to artists.
By pursuing music IP acquisitions, the company is shifting from pure distribution into:
- Catalog investment
- Royalty participation
- Long-term rights ownership
That mirrors a broader industry trend where music companies aim to control both distribution infrastructure and the underlying intellectual property.
Between the lines
- The past five years have seen firms like Hipgnosis Songs Fund and Blackstone pour billions into song catalogs.
- Music rights are attractive because streaming has created steady, data-driven cash flows.
- RouteNote’s move suggests mid-sized players want a slice of the IP economy — not just service fees.
What’s next
Expect:
- More hybrid distributor-investor models
- Increased competition for independent artist catalogs
- Greater emphasis on data to value music assets
As streaming matures, the real power may lie less in platform access — and more in who owns the songs.