Jun 22, 2020

Music Business Worldwide June 22, 2020 European digital distribution company Kontor New Media has acquired Germany-based punk, rock and metalcore label Arising Empire. Arising Empire was founded in 2015 by Markus Staiger (founder and shareholder of Nuclear Blast) and Tobias Falarz (previous Manager with People Like You Records). Following the acquisition, which comes to into effect July 1, Falarz will continue as Arising Empires’ A&R and Managing Director. The Arising Empires team also includes A&R duo Robin Baumann and Michael Mark, in addition to Philipp Bischoff and Dennis Harm from Kontor New Media, whose area of expertise are metal and hard rock. Some of Arising Empires’ biggest successes include Top 10 albums such as Lichtjahre by Madsen (No.3 in Germany’s Album chart) or Wem gehört die Angst by the Hamburger Punk legends Slime (No.9 in Germany’s Album chart). Arising Empire has also had successes in Germany with up and coming US hardcore and punk bands such as Lionheart (No.17), Any Given Day (pitcured) (No.19) and Annisokay (No.26). “We have known Jens and Michi for two decades and we are very happy to rekindle our working relationship in order to bring Arising Empire to the next level.” Tobbe Falarz, Arising Empire Tobbe Falarz said: “We have known Jens and Michi for two decades and we are very happy to rekindle our working relationship in order to bring Arising Empire to the next level.” “With the acquisition of Arising Empire we are continuing our goal of moving even closer to the label business alongside our key business of digital distribution.” Michael Pohl, Kontor New Media Michael Pohl, MD Kontor New Media, added: “With the acquisition of Arising Empire we are continuing our goal of moving even closer to the label business alongside our key business of digital distribution.”Music Business Worldwide