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Investment firm HarbourView Equity Partners has announced a strategic partnership with Wolf Cousins, the songwriting collective founded by Shellback and Max Martin, two of the most successful songwriter-producers of the last
30 years.
As part of the transaction, HarbourView has acquired the publisher’s share of select compositions written by the Wolf Cousins collective, which includes hit songs released by Taylor Swift, Ariana Grande, the Weeknd and many more. Sources tell Variety the acquisition price is in the low nine figures, although reps for HarbourView declined comment.
“At HarbourView, we invest in culturally relevant intellectual property and the visionary creators behind it,” said Sherrese Clarke, Founder and CEO of HarbourView Equity Partners. “Max Martin and Shellback continue to hold their place as hitmakers in contemporary music, and through Wolf Cousins they have built an extraordinary creative ecosystem spanning generations and genres. We are proud to partner with them and help steward the legacy of this remarkable catalog.”
In a collective statement, Shellback (pictured above, right, with Justin Timberlake, whose songs were not announced as part of the deal) and Martin said, “Wolf Cousins was founded to bring songwriters and producers together in an environment built on collaboration, mentorship and creative development. HarbourView’s long-term vision and respect for creators make them a natural partner for this body of work.”
Founded by Max Martin (real name: Karl Martin Sandberg) and Shellback (real name: Karl Johan Schuster), the Wolf Cousins collective includes such songwriters and producers as Ilya Salmanzadeh, Oscar Holter, Tove Lo, Ludvig Söderberg, Jakob Jerlström, Oscar Görres, Ali Payami, Robin Fredriksson and Mattias Larsson, whose work has contributed to a vast catalog of global hits.
The partnership includes select compositions performed by artists such as Taylor Swift, Ariana Grande, The Weeknd, Imagine Dragons, Ellie Goulding, Tove Lo, DNCE and Demi Lovato. Featured titles include chart-topping songs such as Taylor Swift’s “Style” and “…Ready For It?,” Ariana Grande’s “Problem,” “Into You,” and “No Tears Left To Cry,” The Weeknd’s “Can’t Feel My Face,” Imagine Dragons’ “Believer,” Ellie Goulding’s “Love Me Like You Do,” Tove Lo’s “Habits (Stay High)” and DNCE’s “Cake By The Ocean.” Several compositions included in the partnership are also featured in & Juliet, the hit Broadway and West End musical built around the music of Max Martin.
Warner Chappell continues to administer the catalog.
Since its inception in 2021, HarbourView has amassed approximately $3.88 billion in regulatory assets under management and acquired more than 70 music catalogs, including works associated with Quincy Jones, Chaka Khan, Kelly Clarkson, T-Pain, Rodney “Darkchild” Jerkins, James Fauntleroy, George Benson, Luis Fonsi, Christine McVie of Fleetwood Mac, Pat Benatar, Neil Giraldo, Nelly, Wiz Khalifa and Kane Brown, among others.
Fox Rothschild, DLA Piper & Advokatfirman Hammarskiöld & Co AB served as legal counsel to HarbourView in this transaction.
