Raleigh Music Publishing and ICM Crescendo Music Royalty Fund Form Joint Venture for Music Catalog Acquisitions
Partnership Builds on Successful Collaboration and Positions Both Companies to Capitalize on Expanding Global Market for Classic Song Catalogs
NEW YORK, June 15, 2026 — Raleigh Music Publishing (“Raleigh”) and ICM Crescendo Music Royalty Fund (“ICM Crescendo”) today announced the formation of a joint venture through which ICM Crescendo and Raleigh will partner to acquire music publishing catalogs. The partnership is designed to accelerate Raleigh’s growth in the classic catalog market, combining the company’s deep operational expertise and long-standing industry relationships with ICM Crescendo’s music copyright investment infrastructure and expertise.
David Vankka, Steven Storch and Peter Raleigh
The announcement comes as institutional demand for proven music publishing catalogs continues to grow, driven by the durability of royalty income streams, the expansion of global streaming platforms, and the increasing value of music rights in film, television, advertising, and gaming. Classic song copyrights — particularly those with demonstrated commercial longevity — have attracted significant capital from sophisticated investors seeking uncorrelated, inflation-resistant assets.
Founded in 2016, by Peter Raleigh and Steven Storch, Raleigh Music Publishing with headquarters in Times Square New York City and recording studios in Miami has built one of the most distinguished classic catalog portfolios in the independent publishing sector. The company’s holdings include the published works of Elvis Presley — among them “Can’t Help Falling in Love,” “All Shook Up,” “A Little Less Conversation,” and “Don’t Be Cruel”, and the George Gershwin catalog including “Summertime” and “Rhapsody in Blue.” Additional song highlights include the Tokens’ “The Lion Sleeps Tonight Tony Bennett’s “Blue Velvet,” and the Alan J. Lerner catalog, encompassing standards from “My Fair Lady”, “Brigadoon” and “Gigi”.
Peter Raleigh is a copyright royalty expert leading the copyright teams at both Cherry Lane and Imagem Music Publishing US. Imagem owned the rights to the Rodgers and Hammerstein and Boosey and Hawkes catalogs.
Steven Storch is also an industry veteran, having spent 21 years at Sony Music. Steven served as CFO of both Sony Music Publishing, and Imagem Music Publishing US. Steven has spearheaded the acquisitions of numerous music publishing catalogs over his career.
Raleigh Music has built its reputation specializing in songwriting from the 1950s through the 1970s. The company’s dedicated synchronization licensing team and social media operation have consistently demonstrated an ability to generate new revenue from legacy content, securing placements across major motion pictures, premium television, national advertising campaigns, and video games.
The joint venture formalizes an existing successful relationship between the two companies. Raleigh and ICM Crescendo previously collaborated on the acquisition of the Kal Mann catalog which includes such hits as, Chubby Checker’s “Let’s Twist Again”, and House of Pain’s smash “Jump Around”. That deal’s success provided the foundation of trust and aligned incentives that underpins today’s announcement.
Under the terms of the joint venture, ICM Crescendo will commit dedicated acquisition capital to music publishing catalogs sourced and administered by Raleigh. The companies expect to announce multiple transactions in the near term, drawing on a pipeline of opportunities that Raleigh has developed through its long-standing relationships with catalog owners, artist estates, and music rights holders. David Dunn and Shot Tower Capital advised on the deal.
“The American Songbook and the great songs of the 1950s and 60s represent some of the most enduring creative achievements in our culture. At Raleigh, we see ourselves first and foremost as stewards of that legacy. The families and heirs who entrust their songs to us do so because they know we genuinely love this music and will protect it — its copyrights, its integrity, and its place in the world — for generations to come. This partnership with ICM Crescendo allows us to extend that commitment to more of these extraordinary catalogs, and to ensure that the songs that shaped American music continue to be heard, valued, and cared for.”
— Peter Raleigh, President, Raleigh Music Publishing
“As experienced operators, we have spent a decade building the expertise and the relationships to identify, promote and administer some of the world’s most iconic songs. We are extremely excited to partner with David Vankka and the ICM team who, like Raleigh, understand and appreciate classic song catalogs. Partnering with ICM Crescendo gives us the capital to move decisively when those opportunities arise.
— Steven Storch, President, Raleigh Music Publishing
“The music publishing catalog market continues to benefit from powerful long-term trends, including the global growth of streaming, the expansion of licensing opportunities, and the enduring appeal of iconic musical compositions. At ICM, we seek to partner with experienced operators who bring deep industry expertise and access to differentiated opportunities. Raleigh has built an impressive track record of sourcing, acquiring, and managing high-quality catalogs, making them a natural partner as we continue to grow our presence in the music royalties asset class. We look forward to building on our existing relationship and pursuing additional opportunities together.”
— David Vankka, President and Portfolio Manager, ICM Asset Management
About Raleigh Music Publishing
Raleigh Music Publishing is an independent music publisher founded in 2016 by Peter Raleigh and Steven Storch specializing in the acquisition and administration of both classic song catalogs and contemporary songwriters and artists. The company’s portfolio includes some of the most recognized song copyrights in popular music, spanning rock and roll, pop, jazz, and Broadway. Some of Raleigh’s iconic catalogs include songs from Elvis Presley, George Gershwin, Alan Jay Lerner, Brenda Holloway, Frank Wilson, Jr Walker & The Allstars, and Willy Deville. The company’s synchronization licensing and digital teams actively promote the catalog across film, television, advertising, and social media platforms. Raleigh Music Publishing is based in Times Square New York City with offices and a recording studio in Miami.
About ICM Crescendo Music Royalty Fund
ICM Crescendo Music Royalty Fund is a private investment fund that provides investors with access to the music royalties asset class through investments in music publishing catalogs and royalty-generating musical compositions. The Fund partners with experienced music industry operators to source, acquire, and manage music rights opportunities.
The Fund is managed by ICM Asset Management, a Canadian alternative investment manager founded in 2003. Today, ICM manages more than $2 billion in assets through specialized investment strategies spanning music royalties, real estate, private credit, and venture capital. As of June 2026, the Fund’s portfolio included more than 6,500 songs across more than 50 catalogs, representing over 500 artists.
