Vobile has officially announced a Pex buyout deal. Photo Credit: Pex
Self-described IP protection, monetization, and marketing specialist Vobile has officially acquired Pex.
Santa Clara-headquartered Vobile confirmed the buyout in a brief release today. Founded two decades back by Yangbin Wang (who doubles as CEO), the publicly traded business bills itself as “a worldwide leader in digital content protection and transaction services.”
As things stand, the purchaser is said to provide digital fingerprinting for a variety of video content. Vobile’s other products include a social-media rights-management offering and the AI-powered DreamMaker creative platform (which only rolled out last month), the appropriate website shows.
Now, the company (which already counts Sony Music and Warner Music as clients) is evidently leaning into audio. Against the backdrop of a well-documented gen-AI explosion, Wang touted the Pex deal as one piece of an effort to meet evolving rightsholder needs.
“Vobile has been at the forefront of helping global entertainment companies to protect and monetize their content in a rapidly evolving digital landscape,” said the Vobile chairman and CEO. “By integrating Pex’s advanced audio technologies, we are expanding our service capabilities to meet the growing needs of rightsholders, especially as generative AI reshapes the future of creativity.”
On the financials side, Vobile opted against publicly disclosing the hard numbers behind the Pex deal. But the entity (which reported HK$1.2 billion, currently $154.7 million, in H1 2024 revenue) did confirm that Pex’s “team has joined Vobile subsequent to the acquisition.”
However, Pex founder and now-former CEO Rasty Turek has stepped away from his company, the relevant LinkedIn profile shows. Others are in fact remaining aboard Vobile, their own profiles indicate; Pex framed the sale as the beginning of its “next chapter.”
“Joining Vobile marks an exciting new chapter,” echoed Pex COO (now Vobile’s EVP and head of music business) Amadea Choplin. “Together at Vobile, we can make an even greater impact for our clients.”
Vobile’s aforementioned H1 2024 revenue spiked 17.7% YoY, and about half the sum stemmed from operations in the Chinese mainland, the document specifies. The company achieved a relatively modest 8% YoY boost in China during the six-month stretch, compared to a 30.1% YoY hike for all other markets, per the report.
Last month, AI-focused cybersecurity firm GetReal Security scored a $17.5 million raise, and Sony Music led AI licensing startup Vermillio’s $16 million Series A.
Content shared from www.digitalmusicnews.com.