CreateTV
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music distribution, publishing, data analytics |
| Predecessor | CreateTV |
| Founded | 2015 |
| Founder | Jonathan Strauss, Alexandre Williams |
| Headquarters | Los Angeles, California , United States |
Area served | Worldwide |
Key people | Jonathan Strauss (CEO), Alexandre Williams (COO), Wayne Hampton (CBO) |
| Products | Music distribution, rights administration, publishing |
| Website | createmusicgroup |
Create Music Group, initially known as CreateTV, is a U.S.-based independent company specializing in music distribution, publishing, and data analytics. Established in 2015 by Jonathan Strauss and Alexandre Williams, the firm operates from its headquarters in Los Angeles, California, providing services that include music distribution, rights administration, and publishing.
History
In early 2015, Create Music Group was launched by CEO Jonathan Strauss, COO Alexandre Williams, and CBO Wayne Hampton. Strauss contributed an initial investment of $1 million and subsequently secured $2.25 million through a seed funding round in exchange for a minority equity position. The company’s early focus was on reclaiming unpaid revenue on YouTube for artists primarily in the EDM and hip hop genres. By January 2019, it was monetizing approximately 9 billion streams each month.
The acquisition of Label Engine—a label distribution platform founded in 2008 where Williams previously held a position—occurred in June 2016. Among its clientele are Insomniac Records, YNW Melly, and 6ix9ine. Additionally, Create Music Group expanded its portfolio by acquiring the digital media entity Flighthouse.
In 2018, the company inaugurated its music publishing division with 6ix9ine as its inaugural signee. Subsequently, it handled distribution for 6ix9ine’s Dummy Boy album following an unauthorized leak and released his single "Gooba." The label celebrated its first number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart with the collaboration "Trollz" by 6ix9ine and Nicki Minaj.
By 2020, Create Music Group had been recognized as California’s fastest-growing private company and ranked second nationwide on the Inc. 5000 list.
The year 2025 marked further expansion through strategic acquisitions: in March, it obtained the discography of Canadian producer Deadmau5 along with his label mau5trap; this was followed in May by acquiring Canadian electronic label Monstercat.
Cinq Music Litigation and Public Scrutiny (2022–2023)
In September 2022, Billboard highlighted deficiencies in YouTube’s royalty oversight system, referencing anonymous sources who claimed that Create Music Group often submitted royalty claims without holding proper rights. One notable incident involved an erroneous claim over Louis Armstrong’s "What a Wonderful World," which Create rectified upon discovery. Co-founder Jonathan Strauss rejected accusations of deliberate wrongdoing, attributing disputes to flawed data and noting that approximately 90% of ownership conflicts were resolved in favor of Create.
Shortly thereafter, Cinq Music Group initiated legal action against Create seeking at least $200,000 in damages. The suit alleged wrongful copyright strikes against Swell’s track "I'm Sorry," which sampled Shiloh Dynasty—an artist associated with Create. While Cinq asserted clearance for the sample, Create contended that Cinq lacked authorization to monetize the song on YouTube. This lawsuit was dismissed with prejudice in February 2023 following a settlement agreement.
Artist Publishing Group Lawsuit (2025)
In January 2025, Artist Publishing Group (APG) filed a federal copyright infringement lawsuit targeting Create Music Group and related entities. The complaint accused Create of multiple violations including false claims of ownership on YouTube, unauthorized uploading of APG’s catalog to streaming platforms such as Spotify, and encouraging artists to breach contracts through deceptive agreements. A central allegation involved Create’s track "Montagem Diamante Rosa," which APG claimed was an obvious copy of their song "Diamondz n Roses." APG is pursuing damages exceeding $30 million.
Create Music Group refuted these allegations and responded with a counterclaim characterizing APG’s lawsuit as hypocritical. The company accused APG of engaging in unlawful business conduct including soliciting artists under contract with Create and distributing infringing content. In June 2025, the court dismissed APG’s tortious interference claim but allowed copyright infringement and conversion claims to move forward. A trial date has been set for February 10, 2026.
"Fuk Sumn" Litigation Case (2025)
Create Music Group was listed as a defendant along with Ye and Ty Dolla $ign in a legal dispute concerning the track "Fuk Sumn" from Vultures 1. The complainants, who are the original creators of the 1994 song "Drink a Yak (Part 2)," claimed that their work was sampled without permission following unsuccessful attempts to secure licensing. An initial settlement resulted in Ty Dolla $ign and Create Music Group being dismissed from the lawsuit, while proceedings against Ye and his record label continue.
See also
- BMG Rights Management, a similar music enterprise.
- PIAS Group, an independent music company affiliated with Universal Music Group.
- Virgin Music Group, an independently operated label distributor owned by Universal Music.