Mass Appeal Raises $6M Funding Round Led by Universal Music
By
Dan Rys | March 06, 2017 11:25 AM EST
Nas performs during the Mass Appeal + Grooveshark SXSW Takeover on March 14, 2014 in Austin, Texas.
Johnny Nunez/WireImage
Mass Appeal, the graffiti/hip-hop culture publication that has grown to include television and production wings as well as a record label and creative services division, announced today it had raised $6 million in Series A funding. Leading the round is Universal Music Group, and with today's announcement UMG evp
Michele Anthonywill serve on Mass Appeal's board of directors.
Founded as a print magazine in 1996, Mass Appeal has reinvented itself in recent years, particularly after CEO
Peter Bittenbenderpartnered with
Nas to relaunch the physical magazine and open Mass Appeal Records, which will serve as Nas' label home after his long-term deal with Def Jam reaches its conclusion. Since the launch of the label in 2014, Mass Appeal Records has released records from
Run the Jewels (
Run the Jewels 2,
Meow the Jewels),
Fashawn (
The Ecology) and
Dave East (
Hate Me Now,
Kairi Chanel), among others, as well as posthumous records from
Pimp C (
Long Live the Pimp) and
J Dilla (
The Diary).
The company has also made significant moves in the television space via a partnership with TBS and TNT, including upcoming digital series
Storyville alongside Okayplayer and
Think B.I.G., a fictional animated series inspired by the lyrics of
The Notorious B.I.G. and produced in partnership with the late rapper's mother,
Ms. Voletta Wallace, and former manager
Wayne Barrow's Bystorm Films.
Read more: Nas to Record On Mass Appeal Records; Will Release 'Lost Tapes 2' & Posthumous Pimp C Album
"Universal’s reach and influence is unparalleled in music and beyond," Bittenbender said in a statement announcing the news. "Together, UMG and Mass Appeal will create iconic, globally impactful content and we couldn’t be more excited to get to work."
In addition to UMG, several other investors joined the funding round, including
Usher,
Steve Stoute, Evolution Media,
Jon Jashni of Raintree Ventures,
Charles King of Macro,
Michael Kassan of MediaLink and
Karen Lauder, as well as Nas and White Owl Capital, who were already investors in the company.
Read more: The Notorious B.I.G.'s Family Talks Managing His Life After Death
"At Universal Music Group, we are creating new opportunities for our artists and labels to forge deeper relationships with fans around the world through music, film, television, video, social media and brand sponsorships," Anthony said in a statement. "Working with Mass Appeal, we will be able to accelerate that strategy. I’m honored to join Mass Appeal’s board and I’m looking forward to working closely together on many future projects."
Print
Mass Appeal Raises $6M Funding Round Led by Universal Music