IS KKR-RYAN TEDDER A DEAL BIG? YOU BET YOUR ASSETS

The investment firm KKR is acquiring a majority stake in the work of Ryan Tedder, the company and the artist/songwriter/producer have jointly announced. The deal includes some 500 songs created for Tedder’s band OneRepublic and such stars as Beyoncé, Adele, Ed Sheeran, Lady Gaga, Paul McCartney, Stevie Wonder, U2, Cardi B, Jonas Brothers and Thomas Rhett. KKR is purchasing both publishing and recorded-music rights, though Tedder will retain an interest in the material, as will Ron Laffitte’s Patriot Management. The artist-development company mtheory (via its MTC Music Royalties fund) will also partake. Interscope will continue to own OneRepublic’s masters.

Works penned, co-penned or otherwise crafted by three-time Grammy winner Tedder have chalked up 420m+ copies sold and the equivalent of 63 billion streams. Even a shortlist of his biggest hits would take some time to unspool, but know that in addition to OneRepublic smashes like “Counting Stars,” “Apologize” and “Secrets,” Tedder’s had a hand in monsters like the Jonases' “Sucker,” Adele’s “Rumor Has It” and Beyoncé’s “Halo,” among countless other songs you've hummed along to in that charming way of yours.

KKR’s other investments include Gibson Brands, TikTok owner ByteDance, Epic Games and plenty more. Jordan Keller and Sarah Smith of Keller, Turner, Andrews & Ghanem repped the sellers, while Latham & Watkins and FTI Consulting advised KKR on the pact. Further terms were not disclosed, but those involved did say “cha-ching” a lot.

The deal is the latest big transaction to underscore the escalating value of songs as an “asset class,” something Tedder clearly understands. “The music industry is undergoing an incredible period of transformation,” he says. “Streaming and all forms of digital content are not only providing new avenues for how we consume music, but also for how artists can reach new audiences in a much more immersive way. KKR really stood out to us from every metric that mattered, and it truly impressed upon me and my team their commitment to music as a true focus and passion moving forward.”

Laffitte added that the team had been seeking “a strategic partner to help us build on Ryan’s incredible success and find new ways to empower his artistic genius,” noting that KKR swayed them “because they understand that the artist should be at the center of everything that involves the creator’s creation.”