Cutting Edge Secures AMC’s TV Music Catalog

Cutting Edge Group (CEG) has acquired AMC Studios’ “full portfolio of TV music rights,” including both publishing and master rights. The financial details have not been disclosed.

Acquisitions:

• The deal covers music from AMC’s original programming over the past decade.

• It includes music from The Walking Dead franchise, which includes the original series as well as spin-offs The Walking Dead: Dead City and The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon.

• Also included are Anne Rice’s Interview with the Vampire and Mayfair Witches, as well as Into the Badlands and Dark Winds.

• CEG has also secured the rights to future seasons of The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon, Anne Rice’s The Vampire Lestat and Talamasca: The Secret Order, and the new Immortal Universe TV series.

• Under the deal, AMC Networks will continue to use the music within AMC Studios’ series “in perpetuity.”

• As per Music Business Worldwide, the AMC compositions and recordings join CEG’s total portfolio of over 400,000 owned and/or managed media music rights, which it claims is valued at more than USD $1 billion.

What they said:

• Tara Finegan, COO of Cutting Edge Group: “AMC Studios’ catalog represents some of the finest storytelling in modern television and we are honored to become custodians of the remarkable music behind it. Being a record label partner to AMC since 2016 through our soundtrack division, Lakeshore Records, and having released the soundtrack album of Bear McCreary’s iconic The Walking Dead score, we have first-hand experience with how valuable and long lasting this studio catalog is and we look forward to carrying this extraordinary body of work into its next chapter.”

• Dawn Botti, EVP of Legal and Business Affairs for AMC Networks: “We are excited to partner with Cutting Edge, true experts in the use and monetization of the type of original and high-quality music that is at the heart of our shows. The agreement will allow us to participate in Cutting Edge’s efforts to maximize the value of this IP with no disruption to our core business as we retain the right to use the music within past, present and future productions.”