The man behind the mau5head has always played by his own rules, building a diversified empire encompassing electronic music, gaming, and digital asset culture. The keys to those foundations are changing hands after deadmau5’s storied catalog and that of his mau5trap label found new ownership, striking a deal with Create Music Group in excess of $55 million, according to a press release shared with EDM.com.
Encompassing over 4,000 songs, many of which have defined electronic music’s evolution over the past two decades, the sale represents one of the most significant catalog acquisitions in the genre’s history. It effectively ensures that deadmau5’s influential work will continue to thrive across digital platforms, licensing deals and future re-releases.
“When deadmau5 put on that helmet, he didn’t just create a brand—he sparked a movement,” said Jonathan Strauss, co-founder and CEO of Create Music Group. “Now, as the stewards of deadmau5 and mau5trap’s legendary catalog, we inherit a legacy that changed music forever.”
Founded back in 2007, mau5trap has long been revered as a tastemaker in electronic music, playing pivotal roles in launching the careers of Skrillex, REZZ and the late i_o, among many other influential artists.
Chris Polk
The story is bigger, however, than a pure catalog acquisition. The partnership includes a joint venture that yields the promise of new music, ushering in deadmau5’s next creative chapters—and those of mau5trap’s broader roster—under the strategic guidance of CMG.
The company has become a disruptive force in the music industry since its 2015 inception, leveraging data-driven strategies to help artists maximize their earnings across streaming, content monetization and brand partnerships. As part of the deal, CMG plans to remaster and re-release key tracks from the mau5trap archive, develop exclusive content and integrate the brand into digital spaces like VR and gaming.
“I have worked closely with Jonathan, Alex and Create for nearly two decades now, building my own career as well as the artists on mau5trap,” deadmau5 said. “We didn’t need to look far when we were considering a partner to help get it all to the next level.”
deadmau5 is the latest high-profile electronic artist to sell his music catalog, joining Calvin Harris and David Guetta, each of whom inked deals estimated at $100 million. The family of Avicii also reportedly fetched a nine-figure sum in 2022 after selling 75% of the late EDM icon’s master recordings and publishing.
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