Virgin Music Group Completes Acquisition of Downtown Music Holdings

Virgin Music Group has officially completed its acquisition of Downtown Music Holdings, with CEO Pieter van Rijn stepping into the role of Virgin’s COO, while founder Justin Kalifowitz exits the business.

Marking a significant milestone in the creation of a "global, end-to-end solution", the acquisition hopes to meet the needs of independent entrepreneurs, artists, and rights holders.

Downtown collectively serves over 5,000 business clients and more than four million creators in 145 countries. Today, the company has core divisions across Artist & Label Services, Distribution, and Music Publishing. Its portfolio of businesses includes FUGA, Downtown Artist & Label Services, CD Baby, Downtown Music Publishing, and Songtrust.

Kalifowitz, who founded Downtown in 2007, shared a Founder's letter on the website, confirming he is stepping away from the company. Andrew Bergman, previously Chairman of Downtown, will also transition into a senior advisory role.

"Of all the changes over the past two decades, the one I believe we helped shape most is mindset - that creators deserve choice, that independence can scale, that service is not a weakness but a strategy," he wrote.

"Andrew and I step away proud of what we’ve built together and confident in the leadership and culture that define Downtown today. We congratulate our good friend Pieter [van Rijn] on his new role and wish Nat [Pastor], JT [Myers], and the broader Virgin team nothing but the best as they carry the business forward into its next chapter."

With extensive leadership experience across both Downtown Music and FUGA, van Rijn has been a key architect in the development of innovative, scalable services designed to empower the independent community. As COO of Virgin Music Group, he will now oversee global operations, tech, product and strategic integration across the combined businesses, as well as ensuring continuity for Downtown’s clients, teams and brands while unlocking new opportunities for growth and collaboration.

Van Rijn will report to co-CEOs Nat Pastor and JT Myers, and will continue to be based in Amsterdam.

Pastor said: “Pieter’s appointment signals our intent to bring these businesses together thoughtfully and strategically. This is about making both Virgin Music Group and Downtown even better - preserving their distinct strengths while increasing the investment, technology and global resources available to independent entrepreneurs. Pieter’s experience and leadership make him the right person to help guide us forward.”

Van Rijn added: “This combination enhances the choice, service and global reach available to the independent community. I’m grateful to Justin and Andrew for their vision in building Downtown, and to Nat and JT for their trust as we enter this next chapter.

"Our focus is clear: strengthen what makes both companies special and deliver even greater value to the entrepreneurs we serve.”