A&O Shearman represented Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI), a performing rights organization, on its acquisition of Soundmouse, a global leader in music cue sheet reporting and monitoring for the broadcast and entertainment production industries.
Through the acquisition, BMI and Soundmouse will combine expertise in domestic and international cue sheet generation with the aim of creating the industry's largest and most comprehensive database of global cue sheets for the audiovisual marketplace. Soundmouse leverages technology and AI to automate cue sheet creation, tracking music usage across media, which drives revenue and visibility for songwriters, composers, and publishers worldwide.
BMI, a portfolio company of New Mountain Capital LLC (New Mountain Capital), agreed to purchase Soundmouse from Orfium, the global technology company specializing in digital music rights monitoring and royalty claiming.
The transaction is expected to close mid-2026, subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory approvals.
"We are very happy to have advised BMI on this strategic acquisition, which underscores the growing importance of technology in the global music industry," said M&A partner Alain Dermarkar. "This transaction creates the most comprehensive cue sheet database in the industry and will enable BMI to expand the service it offers songwriters, composers and publishers globally."
The A&O Shearman team was led by M&A partners Tina Barazandeh-Nejad, Kyle Park, and Alain Dermarkar, with support from senior associates Soyeon Lim and Jenny Paramonova, associates Alain Jalbert, Caitlin Smith, Aabynn Cha, and Priyanka Popat, and trainee Ajay Graham.
The multidisciplinary deal team was also supported by A&O Shearman teams across multiple jurisdictions, including U.S., UK, and Japan.