Create Music Group

Create Music Group, formerly known as CreateTV, is an independent American music distribution, publishing, and data analytics company founded in 2015 by Jonathan Strauss and Alexandre Williams.^[1] The company is headquartered in Los Angeles, California. The company provides music distribution, rights management and music publishing.

Create Music Group, Inc.

Formerly	CreateTV
Genre	Various
Founded	2015 (2015)
Founder	Jonathan Strauss Alexandre Williams
Headquarters	Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Area served	Worldwide
Products	Label Engine Client Portal Flighthouse Media Yoon Digital
Services	Music publishing Digital distribution Content creation Music promotion Data and analytics
Website	createmusicgroup.com

History

Create Music Group was founded in early 2015 as CreateTV by CEO Jonathan Strauss, COO Alexandre Williams, CBO Wayne Hampton.^[2] Strauss invested $1 million into the company and later raised a seed round of $2.25 million in exchange for a minority share.^[3] The company began by collecting unclaimed revenue for EDM and hip hop artists on YouTube. As of January 2019^[update], Create Music Group monetizes approximately 9 billion streams a month.^[3]

In June 2016, Create Music Group, then named CreateTV, acquired Label Engine, a label distributor founded in 2008 that Williams had previously worked for.^[4][5] The company distributes for clients such as Insomniac Records, YNW Melly and 6ix9ine.^[6] The company also acquired Flighthouse, a digital media brand.^[3]

In 2018, Create Music Group announced the launch of its music publishing division with the signing of 6ix9ine.^[7]

In 2020, Create Music Group was listed by Inc. Magazine at the top of their Inc. 5000 Series: California, as one of the fastest growing private companies in the state, and also Inc. 5000, as one of the second fastest growing company in the United States.^[8][9]

Following the launch of their publishing division, Create Music Group distributed 6ix9ine's Dummy Boy album after the release was leaked.^[10] They also released "Gooba", 6ix9ine's first single after being released from prison. The label scored its first Billboard Hot 100 number one with 6ix9ine and Nicki Minaj's "Trollz".^[1]

On March 4, 2025, Create Music Group acquired the discography of Canadian producer and DJ Deadmau5 and the catalogue of his record label, Mau5trap,^[11] before acquiring the Canadian electronic music label Monstercat two months later on May 6th, 2025.^[12]

Legal issues

Cinq Music Lawsuit and Public Criticism (2022–2023)

In September 2022, Billboard published an investigative article stating that YouTube's royalty system was "ripe for abuse" due to minimal oversight.^[13] The report cited over a dozen anonymous industry sources who alleged that Create Music Group had a pattern of claiming royalties for content it did not have rights to.^[13] One example noted was a temporary, incorrect claim on Louis Armstrong's "What a Wonderful World," which Create stated was an error and had rectified.^[13] In response to the broader allegations, Create's co-founder Jonathan Strauss denied that the company ever intentionally claimed royalties it wasn't entitled to, attributing disputes to "bad data" and noting that 90% of ownership conflicts were resolved in Create's favor.^[13]

Days after the Billboard report was published, music distributor Cinq Music Group sued Create Music Group for at least $200,000.^[14][15] The lawsuit alleged that Create was improperly issuing copyright strikes against the song "I'm Sorry" by artist Swell, which contained a sample from the artist Shiloh Dynasty, who works with Create. Cinq stated it had a valid sample clearance agreement, but Create's actions had prevented Cinq from monetizing the track on YouTube since 2020.^[16] Create's legal officer responded that the company was "protecting the rights of our client" because Cinq lacked the specific contractual rights to monetize the song in audio-visual formats like YouTube.^[16] The lawsuit was formally dismissed with prejudice in February 2023, indicating a settlement had been reached.^[17]

Artist Publishing Group Lawsuit (2025)

In January 2025, Artist Publishing Group (APG) filed a federal copyright lawsuit against Create Music Group and its subsidiaries.^[18] The complaint accused Create of multiple forms of infringement, including filing false ownership claims on YouTube, wrongfully uploading APG's music to services like Spotify, and inducing artists to break existing contracts with APG by signing "bogus contracts".^[19] As a specific example, the suit alleged that Create's track "Montagem Diamante Rosa" was a "blatant, outright plagiarism" of the APG composition "Diamondz n Roses".^[20] The complaint seeks over $30 million in damages.^[21]

In their response, Create Music Group denied the allegations and filed a counterclaim that characterized APG's lawsuit as a "classic example of the pot calling the kettle black."^[22] Create's counterclaim alleged that it was APG who engaged in "illegal and unfair business practices," such as poaching artists already under exclusive contract with Create and releasing infringing music.^[23] A June 2025 court order dismissed APG's claim for tortious interference with contractual relations while allowing claims of copyright infringement and conversion to proceed.^[24] A trial is scheduled for February 10, 2026.^[25]

"Fuk Sumn" Sample Lawsuit (2025)

In a lawsuit over the Vultures 1 track "Fuk Sumn," Create Music Group was named as a defendant alongside Ye and Ty Dolla $ign.^[26] The suit, filed by the artists of the 1994 song "Drink a Yak (Part 2)," alleged the track contained an illegal sample that was used after licensing negotiations failed.^[26] A preliminary settlement was reached to remove Ty Dolla $ign and Create Music Group from the lawsuit; however, the case against Ye and his record label continues.^[26]

See also

• BMG Rights Management, a similar music group.
• PIAS Group, a similar independent music group that is a part of Universal Music.
• Virgin Music Group, a similar independent label distributor also owned by Universal Music.