Firebird’s subsequent huge deal revealed: A considerable funding in Transgressive Data

In September, we instructed you about an acquisitive new US-based enterprise known as Firebird Music Holdings, backed by Raine Group and co-founded by Nat Zilkha and Nathan Hubbard.

US-based Zilkha is a former Accomplice at KKR in December 2021, whereas Hubbard is a former CEO of Ticketmaster and a former world head of Media & Commerce at Twitter.

We revealed that Firebird’s first acquisition was a significantly-sized minority stake in Pink Mild Administration – one of many world’s most established artist administration corporations. (Pink Mild’s founder Coran Capshaw continues to steer the corporate after 31 years at its helm.)

On the time, a supply knowledgeable us that Firebird was additionally pursuing quite a few different music corporations each inside and outdoors the US, including that “they appear to have a big stack of capital to play with.”

At present, MBW can reveal particulars of Firebird’s newest deal – with a broadly revered unbiased report firm headquartered in London.

We’ve confirmed that Firebird has made a considerable funding, and bought a major stake, in Transgressive Data, run by founding administrators Tim Dellow, Toby L and Lilas Bourboulon.

Based on a Firms Home submitting within the UK, the deal was finalized in July/August 2022, and includes Transgressive Data Ltd solely.  (Transgressive’s sister publishing and administration corporations stay exterior of the Firebird partnership.)

In an announcement offered to MBW concerning the Firebird deal, Transgressive’s co-founders mentioned: “We’re thrilled to welcome Firebird as companions in Transgressive Data, enabling and supporting us in our unbiased journey to construct careers for essentially the most musically bold and necessary artists of our occasions.”

Transgressive Data has labored with, amongst many different artists, Damon Albarn, The Waeve, Dave Okumu, A Month Of Sundays, Beverly Glenn-Copeland, Lupin, Alvvays, Arlo Parks, and Foals.

“We’re thrilled to welcome Firebird as companions in Transgressive Data, enabling and supporting us in our unbiased journey to construct careers for essentially the most musically bold and necessary artists of our occasions.”

Transgressive assertion

BRIT Award-nominated Arlo Parks received the UK’s Mercury Prize for Album of the 12 months final 12 months for Collapsed In Sunbeams.

UK rock act Foals topped the UK Album chart for the primary time in 2019 with their sixth report, All the things Not Saved Will Be Misplaced – Pt 2, launched through Transgressive.

The label has an extended historical past with Foals, and launched the band’s debut album Antidotes (No.3 within the UK Album chart) again in March 2008.

MBW understands that Tim Dellow, Toby L and Lilas Bourboulon will proceed to steer the Transgressive Data enterprise following Firebird’s funding.

Possession of Transgressive Administration and Publishing continues to be break up solely between Tim Dellow, Toby L and Lilas Bourboulon.

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A slide inside a deck lately despatched out by Firebird to acquisition prospects and seen by MBW states that “Firebird has artist administration at its core”.

This method, says the deck, allows Firebird to “profit from all income streams” surrounding an artist, together with “streaming, dwell, IP gross sales, and many others.”.

On his LinkedIn profile, Nat Zilkha writes: “We constructed Firebird to align with premium expertise and empower them with shared ardour for music, fashionable model activation capabilities and scale monetary capital.

“We associate with artists, managers, unbiased labels & publishers and know-how suppliers to create an built-in ecosystem the place creatives thrive.”

Throughout his 15-year profession at KKR, Nat Zilkha led or co-led KKR Credit score from 2013 – 2020, throughout which era property below administration grew from $13 billion to over $80 billion. He additionally co-founded KKR’s Particular Conditions and Opportunistic technique.

Zilkha’s further management roles at KKR have included overseeing KKR’s Public Fairness investing methods and performing as a senior member of the North American Personal Fairness enterprise.Music Enterprise Worldwide