Diplo and former Downtown Music CEO Andrew Bergman have launched Bison Music, an independent publishing company focused on discovering emerging songwriters, developing their careers, and investing in the creation of new music.
Announced November 11, the venture arrives with an established international roster whose songwriting and production credits span BTS, Dua Lipa, Bad Bunny, JENNIE, and Beyoncé. But beyond its high-profile founders and impressive roster, Bison is making a broader statement about where music publishing should go next.
Investing in Songwriters, Not Just Songs
As music catalogs become increasingly valuable financial assets, much of the publishing business has focused on acquiring ownership of existing songs and the predictable royalty income they generate. Bison intends to approach the business from another direction: identifying promising writers early, supporting their creative development, and building long-term partnerships.
The company says it will combine hands-on A&R with funding, global publishing administration, and data-driven support to help songwriters establish sustainable careers.
"For me, there's still nothing more exciting in music than discovering a great song from someone you've never heard of," said Bergman, who previously oversaw Downtown Music Holdings and its evolution into a global music services company. Bergman added that Bison is designed to help writers navigate the challenges of the industry while allowing them to benefit from their creative work.
The philosophy is especially interesting given his background. Having helped build Downtown into a company subsequently sold to Virgin Music Group for $775 million, Bergman is now returning to an artist-development model rather than pursuing another large-scale catalog business.
A Global Roster Built Around Creative Collaboration
Bison's initial roster includes Picard Bros., Leclair, MAESIC, Nitti, Kaien Cruz, BomboCat, Akira Evans, and Groupthink. Their work spans electronic music, Latin music, K-pop, Afro-house, and R&B, reflecting an increasingly international and genre-fluid songwriting economy.
Diplo said:
"At a moment when it feels like music needs an injection of originality, our writers are in a position to shape where music goes next."
For independent songwriters and producers, Bison's launch raises an important question: What should a modern music publisher actually provide?
Royalty collection and administration remain essential, but an increasingly global and competitive music economy also demands creative connections, career guidance, and access to opportunities beyond an artist's immediate network. Bison's proposed model emphasizes those services, positioning publishing as an active creative partnership rather than primarily a financial transaction.
The future of music publishing doesn't necessarily have to revolve around acquiring more catalogs.
