Muse Group

Last updated

Muse Group
MuseCY Holdings Ltd.
Company type Limited company
Industry Music software
Music education
Predecessor Ultimate Guitar
Founded2021
Headquarters,
Cyprus
Products Ultimate Guitar
MuseScore
Audacity
StaffPad
Number of employees
200+ [1]  (2024)
Subsidiaries Hal Leonard
Website mu.se

Muse Group (MuseCY Holdings Ltd. [2] ) is a Cypriot software and education company specialised in making tools and resources for music composition, music production and music education. Established in 1998 as Ultimate Guitar, it became Muse Group in 2021 following several acquisitions such as MuseScore and Audacity. It is now headquartered in Limassol, Cyprus, and became the parent company of Hal Leonard in 2023.

Contents

History

Former logo Muse Group logo.svg
Former logo

In 2017, the company acquired the open source music notation tool MuseScore (now MuseScore Studio) and its sheet music sharing platform MuseScore.com, respectively launched in 2002 and 2010. [3]

In 2021, it acquired the open source audio editor Audacity, a software project originally started in 2000. [4] [5]

In 2023, Muse Group acquired American music publishing company Hal Leonard, founded in 1947, and its entire catalogue of sheet music and music learning resources. [6] [1]

Products and acquisitions

Products
LogoNameDescriptionPlatformyear
Ultimate Guitar Logo.svg Ultimate Guitar Online sharing platform for guitarists.Web Proprietary Launched1998
Acquired stake of Dean Zelinsky Guitars2012
Agile Partners Logo.svg Agile PartnersSeveral software products, including:Acquired2013
Diapason and Line.svg SteadyTuneDesktop/Mobile Proprietary
AmpKit Logo.svg AmpKitDesktop/Mobile Proprietary
Tonebridge Logo.svg TonebridgeVirtual effects pedal for guitars.Mobile Proprietary Launched2016
MuseScore logo square.svg MuseScore Studio Music notation app.DesktopOpen sourceAcquired2017
MuseScore web.svg MuseScore.com Online score sharing platform.Web/Mobile Proprietary Acquired2017
CrescendoMusic education app.Desktop/Mobile Proprietary Acquired2018
MuseClass Logo.svg MuseClassMusic education app.Web/Mobile Proprietary Launched2020
Audacity MuseGroup Web Logo.svg Audacity Audio editor.DesktopOpen sourceAcquired2021
StaffPad App Icon.svg StaffPad Music notation app.Mobile Proprietary Acquired2021
MuseHub Logo.svg MuseHubAudio/music store for MuseScore and Audacity.Desktop Proprietary Launched2022
Audio.com Logo.svg Audio.comOnline music sharing platform.Web Proprietary Launched2022
Hal Leonard Icon.svg Hal Leonard Sheet music, method books, and several software products, including:Acquired2023
NoteFlight Icon.svg Noteflight Web Proprietary
SheetMusicPlus Logo.svg Sheet Music Plus Web Proprietary

Notes and references

  1. 1 2 Rothman, Philip (4 December 2023). "Muse Group acquires Hal Leonard". Scoring Notes. Retrieved 28 March 2024.
  2. "Organization Details: MUSECY HOLDINGS LTD". efiling.drcor.mcit.gov.cy. Retrieved 28 March 2024.
  3. Rothman, Philip (19 February 2018). "Ultimate Guitar acquires MuseScore". Scoring Notes. Retrieved 28 March 2024.
  4. Speed, Richard. "Audacity 'scared and excited' to be bought and brought under Muse Group's roof, promises to stay free and open source". The Register . Retrieved 28 March 2024.
  5. Rothman, Philip (30 April 2021). "Muse Group formed to support MuseScore, Ultimate Guitar; acquires Audacity". Scoring Notes. Retrieved 28 March 2024.
  6. Robinson, Kristin (7 December 2023). "Publishing Briefs: Hal Leonard Joins With Muse Group, 'Houdini' Co-Writer Signs UMPG Admin Deal". Billboard . Retrieved 28 March 2024.