Music Ally covered the recent news of RZA’s investment in AYO.
It’s nearly two years since music-clearance veteran Deborah Mannis-Gardner and Tracklib boss Pär Almqvist co-founded their new venture AYO Music Group – an “active copyright administrator” helping rightsholders better exploit their catalogues.
Now the company has backing from genuine hip-hop royalty in the form of RZA out of the Wu-Tang Clan. He has invested in AYO Music Group alongside Chaka Zulu and Jeff Dixon, founders of label Disturbing Tha Peace. Investment firm CIH Group and entrepreneur David Goldberg also participated.
“This round of investments lets us sign and actively serve more clients to collect what they are already owed – fulfilling our mission to get music creators paid,” said Almqvist in a statement.
AYO is now working with musicians including MC Lyte, Pete Rock, LeToya Luckett and Lil Mama, administering publishing, neighbouring rights and recordings for catalogues that are collectively streamed more than 10bn times a year.
– Stuart Dredge, Music Ally