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Diplo and Former Downtown Music CEO Andrew Bergman Launch Indie Publisher Bison Music
Diplo and former Downtown Music chief executive Andrew Bergman have launched Bison Music, an independent publisher focused on discovering songwriters early and supporting their long-term development. The venture is positioned as an alternative to a publishing market where companies have increasingly prioritised buying existing music catalogues.
Bergman will lead as CEO, alongside COO Tom Lee, CCO Juba Lee and general manager Jenny Ilibassi. Its initial roster includes Picard Bros., Leclair, Maesic, Nitti, Kaien Cruz, BomboCat, Akira Evans and Groupthink, whose credits include work for BTS, Dua Lipa, Bad Bunny and JENNIE. Based in New York and Los Angeles, Bison says it will focus on original music and plans to announce more signings in the coming months.
In short
- Diplo and Andrew Bergman have launched independent publisher Bison Music.
- The company plans to develop songwriters early in their careers.
- Its initial roster includes writers with credits for major global artists.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Bison Music’s focus on discovering songwriters early could offer emerging talent sustained guidance and a chance to build careers around original work. In a market increasingly oriented towards buying established catalogues, investing in new creators may broaden opportunities and support a more diverse future body of music.
The case against
A new independent publisher’s stated commitment to long-term development is promising, but the approach carries commercial risks: early-stage writers may take time to find an audience, and the company will need to show that it can provide the resources and continuity its roster needs. Established catalogues can offer more predictable returns, which may help fund reliable support for writers and keep a publishing business sustainable.
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