Sony Music Masterworks has acquired a majority stake in live music promoter and production company, Senbla.
Senbla will continue to be run by founder and CEO, Ollie Rosenblatt (pictured), who will work alongside the Sony Music Masterworks management team, including chief operating officer, Mark Cavell and UK label head Sarah Thwaites, who will also serve on the Senbla board of directors.
“I’m delighted to now be in partnership with the Sony Music Masterworks team," said Rosenblatt. "Senbla is about enhancing value for artists and the value of content. The combination of Senbla with Sony Music Masterworks gives us a broader platform to grow opportunities in live performance, not only for artists and content owners but also for consumers.
"Following this deal we will be developing new formats and concepts and expanding our business with a real sense of energy and excitement. I am very much looking forward to be working with such a dynamic and forward thinking team in Mark and Sarah.”
The Masterworks division previously acquired classical promoter Raymond Gubbay Ltd from Berlin-based DEAG last year.
These acquisitions provide the perfect platform to grow this business exponentially in both the UK and overseas
Mark Cavell
Sony Music Masterworks
“Building on our very successful live business following the 100% acquisition of Raymond Gubbay Ltd last year, the opportunity to acquire a majority stake in Senbla and to work with the creative and entrepreneurial skills of founder & CEO, Ollie Rosenblatt was exactly the right move for Sony Music Masterworks as we further expand our footprint in the area of quality live entertainment," said Cavell. "These acquisitions provide the perfect platform to grow this business exponentially both in UK and overseas."
Thwaites added: “I am thrilled to be working closely with Ollie Rosenblatt, who has one of the most innovative minds in the business. The natural synergies in the work of Masterworks and Senbla, for artists and for audiences alike, will provide exciting opportunities for collaboration and growth."
Founded in 2011, Senbla's roots are in classical music but the company has worked with a wide range of international artists such as Joss Stone, Ennio Morricone, Marc Almond, Soft Cell, Burt Bacharach, Kristen Chenoweth, Sophie Ellis-Bextor and Beverley Knight. It has also presented productions such as The Apollo Nights Summer Series, Star Wars In Concert, Beauty And The Beast, Love Actually, Electric Soul Festival, Hair The Musical and Circus 1903.
The company was nominated in the Live Music Promoter category at the 2019 Music Week Awards.
