Exceleration Music has acquired Mack Avenue Music Group, including its entire catalog and active roster, marking a significant move in the jazz music industry. The deal encompasses Mack Avenue's subsidiary labels: Rendezvous Music, Artistry Music, MaxJazz, Brother Mister Productions, and Strata-East Records.

Mack Avenue will be integrated into Exceleration's existing jazz label, Candid Records, to form a consolidated jazz group. Denny Stilwell, Mack Avenue's president of 23 years, will lead the newly combined unit. This merger follows Exceleration's 2021 relaunch of Candid Records, which has since expanded its streaming presence and released new recordings from artists like Eliane Elias.

The acquisition aims to leverage Exceleration's distribution, marketing, and technological resources to enhance Mack Avenue's global reach. John Burk, Exceleration partner and co-founder, stated their mission is "to build the ultimate independent label home for today's greatest jazz artists."

This development adds to recent notable jazz industry transactions, including Reservoir Media's 2023 catalog agreement with Sonny Rollins. It also joins other significant 2025 music acquisitions, such as Warner Music's purchase of the DWA and Extravaganza catalogs, and Reservoir's acquisition of Lastrada Entertainment's publishing.

Additional industry movements include Influence Media Partners securing $360 million in debt financing through royalties securitization, and Warner Bros. Discovery's new catalog joint venture with Cutting Edge.

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