December 04, 2023 I Acquisition
Hal Leonard Joins Muse Group
Hal Leonard has joined digital leader Muse Group, the company behind some of the world’s most popular online libraries, tools and community spaces for audio creators, including MuseScore, Ultimate Guitar and Audacity. This partnership further solidifies Muse Group’s position as an industry leader in music content and creation. Both Muse Group and Hal Leonard will retain their respective headquarters in the U.S. and Cyprus.
Supported by growth investment from Francisco Partners — a key investor in companies such as Kobalt Music and Native Instruments — this agreement marks the next step in a close, long-standing partnership between Muse Group and Hal Leonard. Both companies share a vision to provide unparalleled access to the best content and resources for the passionate, global community of everyday music makers, educators and learners.
Along with its massive catalog of educational and classical music, Hal Leonard’s licensed arrangements include the world’s biggest artists and scores, from Taylor Swift and The Beatles to John Williams and Disney soundtracks. Combined with more than 3 million expert and community-created tabs and compositions on Muse Group’s Ultimate Guitar and MuseScore, the joint business now includes a content library of over 5.5 million scores, tabs, books, video courses, backing tracks and presets.
Now musicians can look forward to learning more from Hal Leonard’s arrangements and content in digitized, interactive formats on Muse platforms. With over 300 million annual visitors and over 40 million accounts on Ultimate Guitar and MuseScore alone, a whole new global audience will discover Hal Leonard’s library.
Muse Group will also bring significant creator software and technical innovation to Hal Leonard’s digital offerings. Flagship Muse Group achievements include the award-winning, open-source MuseScore 4 notation app, cutting-edge Muse Sounds playback presets, plus StaffPad’s new machine-learning ‘Piano Capture’ composition tool.
In addition to its invaluable licensing and arranging experience, the considerable educational expertise of the Hal Leonard team will provide impetus to further expand Muse Group’s offering to music learners of all skill levels, through both crafted curriculums and pioneering AI-powered tools.
“Our passion for improving the lives of all musicians has always been at the heart of Muse Group — and we’re immensely excited to partner with the Hal Leonard team who share that passion,” said Eugeny Naidenov, Muse Group CEO.
The Hal Leonard name and legacy as a cornerstone of music education for millions will proudly continue, and all Hal Leonard employees will continue in their current roles. The newly expanded Muse Group remains committed to continuing Hal Leonard’s valued partnerships with educators, retailers, distributors, suppliers, content creators and license holders that serve the global music community.
“This partnership will create more music makers worldwide and will lead to even more advances in music education technology, while also expanding ways creators and rights holders can make their musical works more widely available,” said Larry Morton, Hal Leonard’s chairman. “Hal Leonard and Muse have been working closely together for over fifteen years and have built trust and mutual respect over that time. Combining the strengths of both companies is a truly exciting prospect, full of potential ways to grow the music industry in new directions.”
