Exceleration Music has acquired Mack Avenue Music Group, integrating the 26-year-old jazz label's catalog and roster into its operations. This acquisition follows Exceleration's 2021 relaunch of Candid Records.

The merger will combine Mack Avenue and Candid Records under Exceleration's jazz group umbrella. Mack Avenue's president of 23 years, Denny Stilwell, will lead the newly formed unit. The acquisition includes several subsidiary labels:

• Rendezvous Music
• Artistry Music
• MaxJazz
• Brother Mister Productions
• Strata-East Records

Exceleration plans to leverage its distribution, marketing, and technological resources to expand Mack Avenue's global reach. John Burk, Exceleration partner and co-founder, stated their mission is "to build the ultimate independent label home for today's greatest jazz artists."

This acquisition represents a significant development in the jazz music industry, following other notable transactions such as Reservoir Media's February 2023 catalog agreement with Sonny Rollins. The deal comes amid a broader trend of music IP acquisitions in 2025, including:

• Warner Music's acquisition of DWA and Extravaganza catalogs
• Reservoir's purchase of Lastrada Entertainment's publishing
• Influence Media Partners' $360 million debt financing
• Warner Bros. Discovery's catalog joint venture with Cutting Edge

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