Warner Music Group Sells Music Distributor Zebralution To Management, Indie Label Investors

As part of a divestment package negotiated way back in 2012 with Impala and Merlin, Warner Music Central Europe has sold digital distributor Zebralution back to its founders and a small group of indie music industry executives.

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Warner Music Central Europe has sold Zebralution GmbH to a consortium of indie music industry executives including the digital music distributor's original founders, Kurt Thielen and Sascha Lazimbat, as well as City Slang boss Christof Ellinghaus, owner of label Embassy of Music Konrad von Loehneysen.Zebralution distributes a catalog of over 500,000 tracks, albums and videos to hundreds of digital service providers worldwide.The deal comes ten years after the acquisition of Zebralution by Warner Music Group and is part of a divestment package which WMG promised in 2012 to make available to the independent sector pursuant to its agreement with European indie music association IMPALA and international indie digital network Merlin.Christof Ellinghaus says: “We look forward to start the process of turning this great company that Kurt and Sascha built into a real independent again. We’re thrilled for Zebralution to join Merlin right away and become a part of the vital and thriving independent music landscape. We want to be nothing but one of the best distributors in the world for independent labels.”

Warner Music Central Europe Chairman & CEO Bernd Dopp adds: “We have had a fantastic ten years working with Zebralution, a company that has given us a special insight into the indie world. We’re delighted to have the opportunity to continue working with Zebralution in the future and wish its management all the luck in the world as they take the company forward on the next stage of its journey.”