Peermusic has acquired Arctic Rights Management (ARM), the largest indie music publisher in Norway.
The deal will give Peermusic the publishing rights to Arctic Rights Management’s 5,000-plus recordings and compositions.
The deal also encompasses a publishing interest in many international hits, including Dua Lipa’s Don't Start Now (via Caroline Ailin) which received three nominations at the Grammys in 2020 for Song of the Year, Record of the Year and Pop Solo Performance. Also included is Dua Lipa’s New Rules (via Caroline Ailin), which was nominated for British Single of the Year at the BRIT Awards and earned Dua Lipa her first No.1 on the UK Singles Chart and first Top 10 entry on the US Hot 100.
The deal also encompasses 365 by Zedd and Katy Perry (via Caroline Ailin), which hit the Top 20 on charts in 13 territories.
Other hits included in the acquisition are Norwegian DJ Alan Walker’s Sing Me To Sleep (via Magnus Bertelsen); Madrugada’s Majesty, Dreams At Midnight and Nobody Loves You Like I Do; and Girls by Marcus & Martinus (via Magnus Bertelsen and Erik Fjeld), amongst many others.
Mary Megan Peer, CEO, Peermusic, said: “The acquisition of Arctic Rights Management is a unique opportunity to grow our market presence in Norway, adding the 32nd operating country to our global footprint, and to enhance the value at a time when the music market in Norway is booming, supported by digital sales, early adoption of paid music streaming services, and live music festivals. Kai and Kerstin have built an impressive collection of local and international hits written by their songwriters and we look forward to building upon this success. We’re fortunate that peermusic can draw upon the impressive local knowledge and experience of Kai and Kerstin and the team at Arctic Rights Management.”
Arctic Rights Management was founded by Kai Robole (previously founder and CEO of Waterfall Music). By enlisting the catalogues from several publishers as part of establishing Arctic Rights, the company became one of the largest indie music publishers in Norway.
He works alongside Kerstin Mangert, who has experience with Swedish and international rights management as the chair of the Swedish Music Publishers Association and a vice chairman on the board of directors at STIM.
Kai Robole and Kerstin Mangert will now be joining the Peermusic team as creative director, Peermusic Arctic Rights Norway and as managing director, Peermusic Arctic Rights Norway, respectively.
Nigel Elderton, managing director (UK) and European president, Peermusic, added: “The executive talent behind Arctic Rights Management brings both local expertise and impact internationally. We are thrilled to welcome Kai and Kerstin and their team to Peermusic and I look forward to working closely with them to expand Arctic Rights across the region. I am also delighted that our Swedish MD Magnus Larkeryd, and our local staff based in our Stockholm office, will assist in integrating our companies as Arctic Rights works to represent Peermusic repertoire throughout Norway, Finland, and Denmark.”
Kai Robole said: “Peermusic is a first-class music publishing firm who leads with integrity. We are beyond thrilled to be able to leverage peermusic’s global creative platform and to offer their best-in-class services to our clients.”
Ralph Peer II, executive chair of Peermusic, said: “The acquisition of Arctic Rights Management continues our tradition of investment in international repertoire and talented local executives while providing on the ground representation for all of our global music partners, now in 32 countries.”
FOLLOW 
