Deadmau5 Sells Music Catalog in $55 Million Deal With Create Music Group

In a significant move for the electronic music industry, Canadian producer and DJ deadmau5 has sold his music catalog and that of his label, mau5trap, to Create Music Group (CMG) in a deal valued at over $55 million. The transaction, announced on March 5, 2025, includes the master recordings and publishing rights for more than 4,000 songs, marking a new chapter for one of the genre’s most influential figures. The partnership also includes a joint venture for future releases, ensuring that deadmau5 and his label continue to produce new music in collaboration with CMG.

deadmau5, real name Joel Thomas Zimmerman, is a Canadian electronic music producer and DJ known for hits like “Ghosts ‘n’ Stuff” and “Strobe.” With over 5 million monthly listeners on Spotify (deadmau5 Spotify), his label, mau5trap, has launched the careers of artists such as Skrillex and Rezz.
Create Music Group (CMG), founded in 2015, is a music and technology company that provides distribution and publishing services, primarily in electronic and hip-hop music. They became a unicorn in 2024 with a $1 billion valuation.

The deal includes over 4,000 songs from deadmau5 and mau5trap, with a joint venture for future releases. CMG will remaster and re-release key tracks, launch new content, and explore emerging media like gaming and VR to expand the catalog’s reach and revenue streams.

deadmau5 expressed confidence, stating, “I have worked closely with Jonathan, Alex, and Create for nearly two decades, building my career and mau5trap. With Create, the music will reach more people.”
Jonathan Strauss, CMG’s CEO, said, “We inherit a legacy that changed music forever. Joel’s influence spans music, gaming, and technology, inspiring a new generation.”
This deal is part of a trend where artists sell their catalogs for significant sums, similar to Bob Dylan and Katy Perry, providing deadmau5 financial security and creative freedom while strengthening CMG’s position in electronic music.

On March 5, 2025, the electronic music world witnessed a significant transaction as deadmau5, the stage name of Canadian producer Joel Zimmerman, sold his extensive music catalog and that of his label, mau5trap, to Create Music Group (CMG) in a deal valued at over $55 million. This move, reported across multiple industry sources including Variety, Music Business Worldwide, and Billboard, underscores the evolving landscape of music rights and the growing financial allure of catalog sales in the streaming age. This report provides a comprehensive overview, including background, deal specifics, reactions, and broader implications, based on extensive research conducted on March 8, 2025.

deadmau5 has built a storied career since the late 1990s, initially influenced by chiptune and demoscene movements. His breakthrough came with the 2008 album “Random Album Title,” featuring hits like “Faxing Berlin” and “I Remember” with Kaskade, solidifying his presence in the EDM community. Tracks like “Ghosts ‘n’ Stuff” and “Strobe” have become anthems, and his involvement in video games, such as creating sound clips for Dota 2, highlights his cross-media influence. With six Grammy nominations and a reputation as one of the highest-paid DJs, deadmau5’s career, detailed in The Canadian Encyclopedia, spans performances at major festivals like Bonnaroo and collaborations with artists like Rob Swire and Wolfgang Gartner. His label, mau5trap, founded in 2007, has launched artists like Skrillex, Rezz, Noisia, Feed Me, and the late i_o, making it a cornerstone of the electronic music scene.
Selling a music catalog involves transferring rights to master recordings (the original recordings) and publishing rights (songwriting and composition), which generate revenue through streaming platforms, licensing for films, TV, and ads, and other uses. Recent trends show a surge in catalog sales, driven by the value of music rights in the streaming age. For instance, Bob Dylan sold his catalog to Universal Music Publishing for an estimated $300-400 million in 2020, and Phil Collins/Genesis’ catalog was acquired by Concord Music Group for about $300 million in 2022 The Top 10 Music Catalog Sales of 2024 So Far. This trend reflects artists capitalizing on past successes, especially as older music dominates streaming consumption, with catalog records accounting for 72.6% of US album equivalent consumption in 2023 Chart: New Music Plays Second Fiddle to Catalog Titles | Statista.

Details of the Deal

The deal, announced on March 5, 2025, is valued at over $55 million and includes:

• Master recordings and publishing rights for more than 4,000 songs from deadmau5 and mau5trap.
• Formation of a joint venture for future releases, meaning deadmau5 and mau5trap will collaborate with CMG on new music, potentially sharing profits and rights.
• CMG’s plans to remaster and re-release key catalog pieces, launch exclusive new content, and implement a “robust multi-platform strategy” including innovative marketing tactics to reach new generations of fans. This strategy also involves exploring licensing opportunities, brand partnerships, and emerging media such as gaming, VR, and live streaming, as reported by The Hollywood Reporter and Digital Music News.

CMG, founded in 2015 by Jonathan Strauss and Alexandre Williams, began by collecting unclaimed revenue for EDM and hip-hop artists on YouTube, monetizing approximately 9 billion streams monthly by 2019, as per Create Music Group – Wikipedia. The company, headquartered in Los Angeles, has grown into a data-driven music and technology firm offering distribution, publishing, sync licensing, and more, working with artists like Marshmello and Tory Lanez. In 2024, CMG became a unicorn with a $1 billion valuation following a $165 million investment from Flexpoint Ford, and has since acquired labels like Ostereo and a 50% stake in Enhanced Music, as reported by Music Business Worldwide.

Reactions and Statements

Both parties expressed optimism about the partnership. deadmau5 stated, “I have worked closely with Jonathan, Alex and Create for nearly two decades now, building my own career as well as the artists on mau5trap. We didn’t need to look far when we were considering a partner to help get it all to the next level. With Create, I feel the music is going to reach more,” as quoted in Billboard. Jonathan Strauss, co-founder and CEO of CMG, echoed this sentiment, noting, “From the earliest days of Create Music Group, Alexandre Williams and I had the privilege of working alongside Joel and his business partner Dean Wilson, witnessing firsthand the evolution of an icon. Now, as the stewards of deadmau5 and mau5trap’s legendary catalog, we inherit a legacy that changed music forever. Joel’s influence reaches far beyond sound — his mastery bridges music, gaming, and technology, inspiring a new generation to think bigger,” as seen in Rolling Stone.
Online discussions, such as on Reddit’s r/electronicmusic and r/deadmau5, suggest a positive reception, with users viewing the deal as a strategic move to expand reach rather than a sell-out, given the joint venture structure. Some speculate it could lead to more ambitious projects like deadmau5’s cube shows, funded by the liquid cash from the deal, indicating community support for the partnership’s potential.

Implications and Context

This deal is significant for several reasons. For deadmau5, the $55 million payout provides financial security and liquidity, allowing him to invest in new projects or secure his future, while the joint venture ensures continued involvement in his music career. However, it means forgoing future royalties from the sold catalog, though the joint venture mitigates this by sharing future revenue. For CMG, acquiring deadmau5’s catalog strengthens its portfolio in electronic music, a genre with growing appeal in gaming and streaming, and aligns with their strategy of supporting artists through distribution and marketing tools.
The deal fits into a broader trend of catalog sales, with recent examples including Imagine Dragons selling to Concord for over $100 million in 2020 and Pink Floyd to Sony for $400 million in 2024 The 21 biggest music catalogue sales of all time, ranked | lovemoney.com. At $55 million, deadmau5’s sale is substantial but not among the largest, reflecting the value of EDM catalogs, which may be influenced by factors like AI models and steady new works, as discussed in Digital Music News. The long-standing relationship between deadmau5 and CMG, nearly two decades, is an unexpected detail, suggesting trust and familiarity, which likely facilitated this partnership.
Potential controversies include concerns about artistic control, with some fearing over-commercialization, though deadmau5’s history as an advocate for artist rights and his involvement in the joint venture suggest he’s maintaining influence. The deal is generally seen as positive, enhancing electronic music’s reach and supporting CMG’s artist-first approach, given their track record with artists like Marshmello and 6ix9ine Create Music Group | LinkedIn.

Comparative Analysis of Recent Catalog Sales

To provide context, a table comparing recent high-profile catalog sales illustrates the trend:

This table, sourced from RTL Today, highlights the scale of deadmau5’s deal within the industry, though his focus on electronic music and future collaborations sets it apart.

Future Prospects

As CMG takes stewardship of deadmau5’s catalog, the partnership is poised to reshape how electronic music reaches audiences, leveraging CMG’s technological prowess and deadmau5’s creative legacy. Fans and industry observers will likely watch closely for remastered releases, new content, and expanded media integrations, potentially setting a new standard for artist-catalog partnerships in the digital era.

This comprehensive analysis, drawing from multiple sources, ensures a thorough understanding of the deal’s implications, reflecting both the immediate financial impact and the long-term strategic vision for deadmau5 and CMG.

COVER PHOTO from UNSPLASH.COM