Tempo Music Investments, the firm launched by Providence Equity Partners, has made an undisclosed investment in Twenty One Pilots frontman Tyler Joseph’s entire pre-2020 song catalog, including such songs as “Stressed Out,” “Ride” and “Heathens.”
As part of the deal, a strategic alliance has been formed that will see Joseph and his long-term manager Chris Woltman serving as advisors to Tempo while collaborating with the investment firm on enhancing opportunities for the Joseph catalog.
“The passion from the Tempo team around the idea of these songs, as well as the long-term strategy of their vision, is powerful for a songwriter,” said Joseph, whose song catalog remains with Warner Chappell Music. “I look forward to working with Josh Empson, the team at Tempo, along with Warner Chappell, as we uncover new ways to drive discovery of these songs.”
The pre-2020 Twenty One Pilots Catalog, of which Joseph is the principal songwriter, has generated 10.7 million album consumption units-worth of activity in the U.S., according to MRC Data.
“In partnering with Tempo, we see a deeper strategic alliance that will provide oversight and protection of Tyler’s compositions as one of the most powerful songwriters in the world today,” Woltman said in a statement. “Our journey began nearly 10 years ago and we have never skipped a step to ensure that, at its core, the music connects with fans all around the world. We look forward to being a part of the team at Tempo and the opportunities we will uncover within the deeper partnership.”
Since forming in 2019 in an alliance with Warner Music, Tempo has made investments in the catalogs or part of the catalogs of such songwriters and artists as Wiz Khalifa, Florida Georgia Line, Brett James, Philip Lawrence, Jeff Bhasker, Shane McAnally and Ben Rector.
“Tyler is that rare artist whose towering creative talent is matched only by his courage to be honest and vulnerable in his music,” Tempo CEO Josh Empson said in a statement. “He has given a powerful and nuanced voice to issues that many of us shy away from talking about. His profound authenticity, supported by Chris Woltman’s astute management, has won Tyler millions of fans around the world who feel a deep, abiding, and personal connection to his work.”
