Photo Credit: Brett Winter Lemon
A new player has entered the music financing space with a bold goal: to become the largest global funder of independent music. Pipeline, backed by investment firm Jamen Capital, has launched with more than $200 million in capital and a mission to help indie labels, distributors, and creators unlock the value of their intellectual property (IP) without giving up ownership or accepting restrictive deal terms.
Backed by Deep Music and Investment Experience
Pipeline is led by music finance veteran Matt Spetzler, who co-founded the platform and serves as Executive Chairman while also acting as Founding Partner of Jamen Capital. Spetzler previously played a key role in Francisco Partners’ $750 million majority acquisition of Kobalt Music Group in 2022 and currently serves on the boards of Kobalt, Soundtrack, Muse Group, and Recognition Music Group. Across his career, he has completed more than 10 investments in music and audio totaling over $5 billion in value.
The broader Pipeline leadership team brings decades of experience across music, finance, and technology, with collective involvement in more than $8 billion worth of music IP across labels, publishing, distribution, and analytics businesses. The company was advised by Raine and Moore & Van Allen on its fundraising and launch.
A Financing Model Designed for Independent Growth
Pipeline’s platform emphasizes speed and flexibility, offering tech-supported underwriting, fast decision-making, and minimal contractual paperwork. The goal is to provide advances that allow independent companies to scale without turning to acquisitions or restrictive third-party financing.
Initially, Pipeline is focusing on partnerships with labels and distributors, with plans to roll out pilot programs for publishers and Performing Rights Organizations (PROs) in the coming months. The company says it also provides IP analytics and forecasting tools, helping businesses better understand and monetize their catalogs while retaining control.
Entering a Crowded but Expanding Funding Landscape
Pipeline’s launch reflects a broader shift in how independent music companies access capital. Platforms like beatBread have deployed over $100 million across 1,700 funding agreements since 2020 and raised $124 million in fresh funding last year from investors including Citi, Deciens Capital, Mucker Capital, and Advantage Capital. Meanwhile, Duetti has expanded beyond master recordings into publishing rights and royalty streams, supported by $200 million in new debt financing.
While these companies take different approaches — from revenue-based advances to catalog acquisitions — they all point to growing confidence in music IP as a stable, scalable asset class.
By positioning itself as a rights-first financing platform, Pipeline aims to help independent music businesses compete based on creative strength rather than financial scale. With substantial capital, experienced leadership, and a focus on flexible deal structures, the company hopes to reduce barriers to growth across the indie ecosystem. If successful, Pipeline could significantly influence how independent music companies fund expansion while staying independent.
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