Will this startup change the music industry forever? UnitedMasters - the record company killer
UnitedMasters, the music industry’s next big idea, could radically change the way artists distribute, analyse and make money from their own music. Touted as a “record company in your pocket” by founder Steve Stoute, the industry disruptor has already received major funding from tech giants Alphabet (Google) and Apple.
What is United Masters?
UnitedMasters provides premium music distribution services and facilitates unique partnerships between artists and the world’s biggest brands. They enable artists to maintain full ownership over their master recording rights while introducing them to millions of new fans worldwide through direct brand partnerships.
And they mean brand partnerships. The company is strategically aligned with the likes of the NBA, TikTok, Twitch, ESPN and Apple. UnitedMasters sealed this last partnership alongside their $50m series B round, led by the music titan in May 2021.
Where did the genius idea come from?
Steve Stoute, the founder of United Masters, developed the product after spending his early career as a music industry executive and artist manager. Stoute mixed with the biggest names in hip-hop; from Nas to Will Smith to Beyonce & Jay-Z, but it wasn’t until his stint as a director of the marketing company, Translation, that he really understood the revenue potential in brand-artist partnerships.
The manager turned marketeer was responsible for giant campaigns like McDonalds’, ‘I’m loving it’ (originally composed by Pusha T) and Jay-Z’s Reebok re-brand. He also had a long-standing partnership with Disney, where he was a major proponent in updating and modernising the company’s diversity and inclusion practices.
All of which culminated in United Masters. A service that would give power back to artists while exposing them to more revenue-generating opportunities.
United Masters founder & CEO, Steve Stoute ☝️
Listen to Steve Stoute
Steve came on the Secret Leaders Podcast this week to share his journey and some incredible learnings from his multi-faceted, 30-year career in the business...
Steve shares some crazy stories, including:
His trip to Monaco with Roger Moore, Bono and Jay-Z
The time Sir Paul McCartney confessed that the Beatles’ had stolen their music
When P-Diddy jumped him
Listen to the podcast here
