On Tuesday (April 29), DJ Khaled and Influence Media Partners announced a partnership where the group has invested in the rights to his music catalog, which includes his publishing. The deal also includes a new venture where DJ Khaled and Influence Media Partners will produce new and original content in film and television. The news comes as the Grammy Award winner is set to release his 14th album, which will add to the wealth of music that the venture will draw for commercial opportunities using his name, image and likeness.
It’s another milestone for Influence Media Group, which was founded in 2019 to focus on songs and artists that have the capacity for lasting impact on popular culture. In January, the group (backed by Warner Music Group and BlackRock) secured $360 million in debt financing. They’ve also launched an independent music label, Slang, which signed Will Smith last year. Their latest fund has signed more than 30 music-rights investments, including those of Enrique Iglesias, Blake Shelton, and Jessie Reyez.
“I’m proud that my legacy will continue to resonate and connect with audiences around the world with this partnership through Influence Media,” DJ Khaled said in the press release issued on Tuesday. “These iconic recordings I’ve created will continue to be curated in the most optimum manner to impact culture with nearly two decades of music. In addition, I’m excited for the world to see and experience the film and television projects Influence and We The Best are developing and producing together. This next phase of my career will be filled with ground-breaking cultural impact, and I look forward to being at the forefront in all categories.”
“Influence Media was founded on the principle that music can move culture, and few entertainers embody this more than DJ Khaled,” Lylette Pizarro, Influence Media Founder and Co-Managing Partner said in the statement. “Our joint venture NIL deal, and extended catalog partnership is an alliance that will create boundless opportunities for this creative genius, and will also further establish that DJ Khaled is a rare talent whose abilities extend far beyond the traditional confines of music.”
