CTM Outlander Buys Dutch Music ‘Pioneer’ Strengholt Music Group

On the heels of its catalog deal with veteran songwriter and producer Fraser T. Smith, CTM Outlander has bought nearly century-old Dutch publisher Strengholt Music Group.

CTM Outlander just recently unveiled its buyout of Strengholt (formerly Warner Basart Music Publishers), which the purchasing party has billed as “one of the biggest pioneers of the Dutch music industry.”

Though the sale’s financial terms haven’t been publicly revealed, CTM Outlander disclosed that the play encompasses “over 100 No.1 hits which form part of Dutch music history.” Among the latter are works created by Boudewijn de Groot, Jochem Fluitsma, and the late Ramses Shaffy, to name some.

Moreover, the catalog’s “worldwide hits” include DJ Jean’s “The Launch,” Luv’s “You’re the Greatest Lover,” and Kamahl’s “Elephant Song,” CTM Outlander indicated. Shifting to the recorded side, Strengholt Music Group is said to possess “key” masters from the Basart Records and Dureco labels, such as tracks performed by Corry Konings, The Smurfs, Vader Abraham, De Dijk, and others.

Excluded from the transaction, however, are the “management and music rights activities of Purple Eye Publishing and Purple Eye Entertainment,” CTM Outlander specified, driving home that the entities will “continue to operate separately.” Established in 1996, Purple Eye releases electronic music on labels including but not limited to Tsunami, Carnal, and the namesake Purple Eye Entertainment, its website shows.

CTM Outlander’s newest acquisition has followed several different IP transactions in July. To be sure, Universal Music Group (UMG), HarbourView Equity Partners, and Reservoir Media have closed song-rights investments on the month, after June delivered a collection of noteworthy agreements in its own right.

Meanwhile, beyond this steady stream of finalized catalog sales, reports have suggested that multiple blockbuster plays could be forthcoming. Time will tell whether the deals come to fruition, but 10 percent of Led Zeppelin’s catalog (and other assets) is currently on the market, Warner Bros. Discovery is reportedly negotiating a $500 million song-rights sale, and the aforementioned UMG is reportedly teeing up a $1 billion purchase of Queen’s body of work.

Also during July, Hipgnosis Songs Fund (LON: SONG) posted its fiscal-year financials – and grappled with executive departures – against the backdrop of a sagging stock price. The company has scheduled a key annual meeting and continuance vote for September, and certain leading SONG investors are encouraging the business to offload a portion of its 146 catalogs.

“We look forward to updating you further in due course, and well in advance of the Company’s AGM this September, at which the Company will table its scheduled five-year Continuation Vote,” Hipgnosis chair Andrew Sutch said of potential steps to increase shareholder value.