“Can a music technology platform become the full financial and operational OS for independent labels and creators globally — combining distribution, royalty analytics, advances, and payout infrastructure?”
Founded in 2015 as a music distribution and rights management company for independent labels, Create Music Group evolved into a full-stack music infrastructure platform by adding real-time royalty analytics (2019), artist-facing credit products via Create Carbon (2021), and automated global mass payments via Tipalti. The company has increasingly positioned itself as a capital provider — deploying $500M+ in advances and investments — while operating as the technology backbone for 17,000+ independent music clients across 100+ countries. Its most recent moves, including backing Circuit Capital and acquiring stakes in Nettwerk, show a deliberate expansion into music-IP holding and royalty finance at scale.
Create Music Group uses Tipalti for FX and cross-border payouts.
The Embedded Finance Index 2026 maps 3 layers in Create Music Group's stack: Lending (Artist royalty advances, Catalog acquisition capital and Circuit Capital fund (music IP/catalog finance, $500M+)); FX & payouts (Tipalti); Spend / AP (Tipalti).
Create Music Group was founded by Jonathan Strauss and Alexandre Williams and is founded in 2015, headquartered in Los Angeles, CA, USA.
Create Music Group has raised $450M+ (combination of equity and debt) in total (latest round: Debt + equity raise, 2024; valuation: $2.2B).
Get a read on where your own stack stands against Create Music Group and the rest of its category — what they built versus bought, which providers they use, and where the gaps in your own strategy and competitive set actually are.