Slipstream Acquires Anthem's Production Music Brands in Major Deal

Slipstream, the leading music licensing platform, has announced the acquisition of Anthem Entertainment’s production music businesses, specifically US-based Jingle Punks and 5 Alarm Music, and UK-based Cavendish Music.

The acquisition comprises more than 650,000 tracks, together with music production capabilities and now positions Slipstream as the largest global independent music licensing platform. The acquisition, facilitated by the financing and expertise of Pollen Street Capital, has unlocked Slipstream’s potential to emerge as the market leader. Moelis & Company acted as exclusive financial advisor to Anthem Entertainment on the transaction.

Dan Demole, co-founder of Jingle Punks and former President of Anthem Production Music Group, and Jesse Korwin, former Managing Director of Jingle Punks, founded Slipstream in 2021. Now, with this new acquisition, they are reclaiming their previous businesses, marking a full-circle moment for both.

This purchase also underscores Slipstream’s ambitious vision to redefine music licensing across TV, film, advertising, gaming, social media, and brands. Slipstream takes control of three renowned production music brands: production music agency Jingle Punks, 5 Alarm Music, the largest independent production music library for film, television, radio, and commercials in North America, and Cavendish Music, the UK’s oldest and largest independent production music publisher, celebrated for its high-quality compositions and extensive catalog used across global media platforms. Slipstream will continue to provide creator-safe music for digital content makers, as well as expanding their offering for traditional film, TV, and advertising clients.

Their platform now caters to content producers and creators of all sizes across the entire media landscape, from social content creators and small businesses to global brands and enterprises.

Dan Demole, CEO of Slipstream, said: “This acquisition is a homecoming for us. Jesse and I built both Jingle Punks and Slipstream on the foundation of making great music accessible to every type of creator. We now have an unprecedented opportunity to build on the success of both brands while leading the next wave of innovation in music licensing. With this vast catalog and our tech-enabled platform, we’re not only the largest independent player in the space, but also the most innovative.”

Jesse Korwin, Chief Revenue Officer of Slipstream, adds: “Our focus is to blend creativity with technology, making it easier for TV networks and producers, brands, filmmakers, and creators of all sizes to find and license the perfect soundtrack for their content. We’re excited to leverage our experience in production music and our deep understanding of client needs to deliver something truly groundbreaking for the industry.”

Anthem Entertainment will make an investment in Slipstream as part of the transaction. Anthem Entertainment CEO, Jason Klein, commented: "Anthem’s focus since my appointment in January 2023 has been on building its core music publishing and recorded music divisions, while considering the best path forward for our production music businesses.

"This sale to Slipstream has placed Jingle Punks, 5 Alarm and Cavendish Music back in the familiar and capable hands of proven leaders in the production music and technology space. Dan and Jesse already know these businesses and have a unique vision for their future as part of Slipstream. Our belief in them as leaders and their vision is the reason we have also chosen to invest in Slipstream going forward." Michael Katramados, Partner at Pollen Street, adds: “We are very excited to be partnering up with the Slipstream team and supporting them in a transformational acquisition that will create one of the market leaders in production music. Combining a vast music library, fresh tech and Dan and Jesse’s deep industry expertise, makes this a very exciting business to be part of and one that could contribute materially in reshaping an industry that is evolving at a rapid pace.”

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