CVC private equity now has a majority stake in DistroKid, music distribution

Capital and private equity continue to fly in the music and music tech industries. CVC has acquired a majority stake in the music distribution giant DistroKid, with Insight VC keeping a significant share.

Ableton quietly launched Learn, powered by the engine from Note, Move

School’s out for summer. But Ableton’s getting ready for back-to-school, soft-launching Ableton Learn with lessons for starting from the beginning with music and production. And there’s a twist: its interactive features are powered by the same engine that Ableton Move and Note use.

Peter Kirn - July 7, 2026

Francisco Partners exits Muse Group (Audacity, Hal Leonard, MuseScore)

Francisco Partners, the private equity firm, is now exiting Muse Group amid 2026’s financial maneuvers. Muse Group is the Cyprus-based conglomerate that owns the publishing giant Hal Leonard, audio editor Audacity, notation software MuseScore and StaffPad, and the online platform Ultimate Guitar.

Peter Kirn - June 3, 2026