Create Music Group Acquires Canadian Label Monstercat

Create Music Group has acquired the Canadian independent label Monstercat to expand its global reach in electronic music and gaming.

Today, Los Angeles-based music platform Create Music Group announced that it has acquired Canadian imprint Monstercat, adding another leading independent label to its portfolio. This strategic addition by Create’s team intends to grow its presence in the global dance music scene and gaming space.

Monstercat, which has staff based in Vancouver, Toronto, and Los Angeles, has become renowned as an artist-first brand that has opened its doors to a wide array of genres throughout its run. Since launching, the brand has expanded to encompass three labels, Uncaged, Instinct, and Silk, the latter of which was launched in 2021 after the acquisition of Silk Music. Artists who have released with Monstercat over the years include Kaskade, Koven, Alan Walker, DJ DIESEL, Vicetone, ATTLAS, Shingo Nakamura, WHIPPED CREAM, Virtual Riot, and OCULA, among others.

Our mission has always been to build sustainable, long-term careers for exceptional artists. Create gives us the reach and support to do that at a larger scale, without changing what makes Monstercat special. We’re still artist-first — only now with more tools to serve them.
Daniel Turcotte, President of Monstercat

While Monstercat will now be part of Create Music Group, it will continue to operate independently under President Daniel Turcotte, Vice President Orri Sachar, and Director of Finance Rob Hill. The brand’s founders, Mike Darlington and Ari Paunonen, will continue to be involved in advisory roles. Create Music Group plans to invest an additional $50 million in artist development, advances, and platform support over the next two years to accelerate the label’s long-term growth and new signings.

Monstercat is everything an independent label should strive to be — exclusive, globally trusted, and capable of breaking artists and songs at the highest levels. Mike, Ari, Daniel, Orri, and the entire Monstercat team have built a culture and community at a scale rarely achieved in the music industry. We are excited to support their mission.
Jonathan Strauss, Co-Founder and CEO of Create Music Group

Beyond the releases on the three aforementioned labels, Monstercat is bringing the rest of its portfolio. This includes the brand’s deep connection to video game brands, including Rocket League, Beat Saber, Fortnite, and Roblox, along with its growing live events business, which has hosted stages at Tomorrowland, Rampage Open Air, and more. Create Music Group also plans to expand Monstercat Gold, the label’s subscription-based sync licensing service geared at content creators on platforms like YouTube and Twitch.

This acquisition by Create Music Group is the latest to surface in 2025 after they announced in March that they had acquired deadmau5 and mau5trap’s catalogs, as well as the indie electronic label !K7 in April. Other notable moves included acquiring a 50% share in Enhanced Music and a full acquisition of UK-based record label and music publisher Ostereo in 2024.