Alex Williams, Co-Founder/COO
Jon Strauss, Co-Founder/CEO
Wayne Hampton, Co-Founder/CBDO
Billboard Indie Power Players (June 2025)
Create, which received $165 million in backing from Flexpoint Ford in 2024, has “deployed” more than $200 million in label investments and artist advances over the past 12 months, with plans to invest another $500 million during the next 18 months, Strauss says. This includes the recent acquisitions of indie electronic labels !K7, Monstercat and Ostereo, as well as the catalogs of deadmau5 and his mau5trap label in a deal valued at $55 million. Strauss also mentions additional investments in indies such as broke records and Enhanced Music and ventures with artists including Ty Dolla $ign.
HOW THE INDIE WORLD HAS CHANGED
“The industry is much faster-moving and labels need to be able to market their artists at the same speed.” —Strauss