HarbourView Equity Partners, a Newark, New Jersey-based investment firm specializing in intellectual property, has acquired the publisher's share of select compositions from Wolf Cousins, the songwriting collective co-founded by pop hitmakers Max Martin and Shellback. The deal, announced this week, adds to HarbourView's growing portfolio of music assets, which now exceeds 70 catalogs and approximately $3.88 billion in regulatory assets under management.
Wolf Cousins, founded by Martin and Shellback, brings together a roster of producers and songwriters including Ilya Salmanzadeh, Oscar Holter, Tove Lo, Ludvig Söderberg, Jakob Jerlström, and Ali Payami. The collective's catalog spans recordings by some of the world's best-selling artists, such as Taylor Swift's "Style" and "...Ready For It?," Ariana Grande's "Problem," "Into You," and "No Tears Left To Cry," The Weeknd's "Can't Feel My Face," Imagine Dragons' "Believer," and Ellie Goulding's "Love Me Like You Do." Several compositions also appear in the Broadway and West End musical & Juliet, which is built around Martin's songbook. Warner Chappell will continue to administer the catalog.
Max Martin has written or co-written 30 Billboard Hot 100 number one singles and produced or co-produced 28 of them, while Shellback has contributed to global hits for artists including Adele, Maroon 5, P!nk, and Usher. Both hold multiple Grammy Awards. The acquisition underscores the growing institutional interest in music royalties as an alternative asset class, a trend accelerated by Hipgnosis's 2018 London launch and its subsequent $1.6 billion take-private by Blackstone.
"At HarbourView, we invest in culturally relevant intellectual property and the visionary creators behind it," said Sherrese Clarke, founder and CEO of HarbourView Equity Partners. "Max Martin and Shellback continue to hold their place as hitmakers in contemporary music, and through Wolf Cousins they have built an extraordinary creative ecosystem spanning generations and genres. We are proud to partner with them and help steward the legacy of this remarkable catalog."
Martin and Shellback welcomed the arrangement, stating: "Wolf Cousins was founded to bring songwriters and producers together in an environment built on collaboration, mentorship and creative development. HarbourView's long-term vision and respect for creators make them a natural partner for this body of work."
The deal is the latest in a rapid sequence of acquisitions for HarbourView since its 2021 launch. The firm has previously acquired catalogs connected to Quincy Jones, Kelly Clarkson, Chaka Khan, Christine McVie of Fleetwood Mac, Luis Fonsi, and Wiz Khalifa, among others. This expansion reflects a broader trend of Wall Street firms treating music royalties as a viable alternative investment, similar to real estate or private equity.
For financial advisors, the growing securitization of music IP offers potential portfolio diversification opportunities, though it also carries risks related to changing consumer tastes and streaming revenue volatility. As endowments and foundations shift focus to liquidity while alternatives dominate portfolios, music royalties represent a niche but increasingly institutionalized asset class.
HarbourView's latest move also highlights the convergence of entertainment and finance, a sector that has attracted attention from RIAs and broker-dealers seeking yield in a low-rate environment. However, advisors should note that such investments require specialized due diligence and may not be suitable for all clients.
