The Deals: Chaka Khan Enjoys the HarbourView; REPUBLIC Teams With ZIZA for South Asian Artist Label

HarbourView Equity Partners signed a strategic partnership with singer-songwriter Chaka Khan that will focus “on catalog development, global licensing, and the development of new creative ventures,” according to a press release. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Khan’s catalog includes 22 albums. Her hits include “I’m Every Woman,” “Ain’t Nobody,” “Sweet Thing,” “Through the Fire,” “Tell Me Something Good,” and “I Feel for You.” She’s won 10 competitive Grammys, was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2023 and received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award earlier this year.

“Chaka Khan is a remarkable talent — an artist whose voice, spirit, and presence have moved effortlessly across generations while never losing their power or soul,” said Sherrese Clarke, founder and CEO of HarbourView. “She is not only an iconic vocalist, but a mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother whose energy, authenticity, and sense of self continue to inspire. As both a musical force and a fashion icon, Chaka embodies a rare blend of strength, style, and spirit. We are honored to work alongside her as she continues to evolve her legacy in ways that feel as vibrant and resonant as ever.”

“Music is the most powerful and generous thing I know, you give it away and somehow it always comes back bigger. Seeing these songs still finding new ears and new hearts fills me up with joy,” added Khan. “This beautiful group at HarbourView gets what my music means, not just as a business, but as a body of love. That matters to me deeply.”

Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP served as HarbourView’s legal counsel in the transaction. Khan was represented by the law office of Ron E. Dolecki, P.C.

According to the release, Harbourview has roughly $3.88 billion in regulatory assets under management and more than 70 music catalogs to date.

Read about more recent music industry deals below.

REPUBLIC Collective signed a multi-year global partnership with New York-based company ZIZA Inc. to launch ZIZA Records, a label that will center on developing the global profile of South Asian artists and catalogs.

“This partnership reflects the continued global expansion of South Asian music,” said Jeffrey Remedios, president and CEO of REPUBLIC Collective. “Shivam and the ZIZA team have built a strong foundation in the space, and we see an opportunity to grow that internationally together.”

ZIZA Records will focus on signing and developing artists from the South Asian diaspora, particularly acts with traction in North America, the U.K., Europe, Australia and the Middle East. It will additionally prioritize creating catalog opportunities through worldwide distribution, synch and marketing. ZIZA Records will also explore opportunities concerning brand partnerships, live experiences and cross-market collaborations.

“REPUBLIC Collective represents the gold standard of modern music culture and global artist development.” said Shivam Malhotra, founder of ZIZA Inc. and its associated company Malsons Ventures. “For us, this partnership is the beginning of a long-term movement to position South Asian music at the center of the global mainstream. Jeffrey, Avery, and the entire Republic team understand both the cultural value and the commercial scale of what’s coming next. Their belief in our vision, combined with their unmatched global infrastructure, makes Republic the ideal partner to build ZIZA Records into a defining force for this generation of artists. Together, we’re creating a platform that will not only break talent globally but reshape how the world experiences South Asian music.”

Live Nation acquired a majority stake in Movistar Arena Buenos Aires. According to a press release, the 15,000-capacity venue, which opened in 2019, hosts more than 250 events each year and welcomes more than 2.5 million fans annually. The arena will remain “available to all qualified promoters,” the release adds.

The arena’s former majority owner, La Nación, will remain a shareholder.

“Movistar Arena Buenos Aires is one of the premier venues in Latin America,” said Michael Rapino, president and CEO of Live Nation Entertainment. “We are excited to support the Movistar Arena team in providing a first-class environment for artists and fans.”

“Since opening our doors, Movistar Arena Buenos Aires has become a benchmark for live entertainment in Argentina and across Latin America,” said Gabriel Dantur, CEO of Movistar Arena Buenos Aires. “Live Nation’s investment reflects the strength of what the team has built over the past several years, and we will continue to enhance the experience for artists, fans, partners, and promoters.”

Universal Music Group (UMG) signed a partnership with Solution One (S1), a Thai music distributor and music publishing services company. Through the deal, UMG has become a “significant minority investor” in S1.

Founded by CEO Karlcharn Kongkatong and co-founder Apsornsopha Sariman in 2001, S1 works with a network of songwriters, producers, artists, creators and independent labels in Thailand, providing distribution, publishing, production, licensing and artist services. It additionally operates in-house production facilities, including Dolby Atmos studios.

Kongkatong will continue leading S1 and its publishing/royalty administration arm, D1, as CEO alongside the company’s existing management team.

Calvin Wong, CEO of Universal Music South East Asia & Korea & senior vp of Asia, said: “This partnership reflects our continuous commitment to Thai music and is an exciting next step in our strategy to expand our presence in high-growth markets. We are delighted to work closely with Karl, a visionary entrepreneur who has built the largest local distribution in Thailand and together take S1 to the next level.”

Added Kongkatong, “This partnership is an important step for the future of Thai music. By combining S1’s digital distribution and production expertise, D1’s publishing and rights management capabilities, and UMG’s global network, we are creating a stronger platform to bring Thai artists, creators, and intellectual property to audiences worldwide.”

Epic Records U.K. has announced a joint venture with Stay Solid Music Entertainment, an artist-led management and entertainment company founded by Fawaz Thompson and Darren Danquah. Unknown T, Stay Solid’s flagship client, has achieved multiple top 20 placings on the U.K.’s Official Albums Chart, most recently in 2021 with Adolescence (No. 8).

Sarah Lockhart, president of Epic Records U.K., said: “By their trusted association, FT (Fawaz) and Papes (Darren) have quietly influenced the tapestry of the UK’s vibrant music scenes for over a decade. Entrenched in London’s pioneering creative communities, they innately understand the UK’s impact on global scenes, music and taste.”

Fawaz Thompson (FT) and Darren Danquah (Papes), founders of Stay Solid Music Entertainment, added: “Epic’s recognition is a defining moment for us. As the industry evolves, we appreciate the progressive approach that Sarah has taken by recognising and empowering those who are actively contributing on the ground. Stay Solid isn’t just a record label and management company, it’s a lifestyle label.”  — Thomas Smith

Universal Music Greater China (UMGC) acquired the Carrier Creative recorded music catalog, which includes the rights of “golden-era” Mandopop artists of the ’80s and ’90s, according to a press release. This is the first catalog acquisition by UMGC in the region.

Artists whose works are included in the deal include the group Little Tigers, singer-songwriter Johnny Chiang, You Huan Pai Dui, Hong Hai Er, Girl Group, Nicky Wu and Alec Su.

The deal comes in the wake of a strategic partnership launched between UMGC and Skyhigh Entertainment, which previously managed the catalog, in 2025. That agreement led to the restoration, remastering and global streaming relaunch of more than 600 recordings and 66 albums.

Timothy Xu, chairman & CEO of Universal Music Greater China, said: “The Little Tigers, Johnny Chiang and the broader Carrier Creative catalog represent one of the most important chapters in the history of Chinese-language popular music. These songs helped shape the sound, identity and collective memory of an entire generation. We are deeply grateful to Shirley Miao for her trust in placing this extraordinary catalog with Universal Music, and we will honour that trust by preserving its legacy while creating new possibilities for these works in the years ahead.”

Shirley Miao, founder of Carrier Creative, added: “These songs have been my life’s work. For nearly forty years, I have devoted myself to caring for this catalog and carrying it through different eras. There is a great deal of emotion in finally passing it on. What matters most to me is knowing they are now in the hands of people and a company I truly trust. I believe Tim and the UMGC team will continue to care for these works with the passion, respect, and long-term commitment they deserve.”

SingFit, a platform designed to facilitate engagement with music among senior adults and their caregivers, is partnering with AARP to give AARP members and registered users free music resources and discounted access to the platform. According to a press release, SingFit is already used in more than 1,000 senior living communities and skilled nursing facilities in the U.S.

“SingFit is built to encourage more people to sing, an activity research has shown can impact our minds and our bodies in a range of positive ways,” said SingFit co-founder and CEO Rachel Francine. “We’re extremely pleased that AARP has recognized our platform’s ability to support caregivers and help reduce their burden by actively using the instrument we all have, our voices.”