Searchlight Capital is committing $400m to Chord Music Partners, the music rights company backed by Universal Music Group (UMG) and Dundee Partners, according to a SkyNews report.

Chord’s portfolio includes catalogues from globally recognised artists such as ZZ Top, Ellie Goulding, Lorde, The Weeknd, and John Legend. Formed in 2021, the company has been actively expanding its holdings, recently acquiring a stake in the catalogue of Morgan Wellen.

KKR, a previous shareholder, exited its stake last year in a transaction valuing Chord at $1.85bn. The latest investment reflects continued strong demand for high-value music rights, with private equity firms competing aggressively in the sector.

Industry sources suggest Chord will announce further acquisitions in the coming months. UMG chairman and CEO Sir Lucian Grainge previously described partnerships like Chord as essential for “creating maximum commercial and creative value for songwriters and artists.”

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