iZotope and Native Instruments join forces under new music and audio creator group

Today iZotope, the experts in intelligent audio technology, and Native Instruments, the leading manufacturer of music creation products, announced that they have teamed up to form a new technology group backed by Francisco Partners and EMH Partners. Both companies hold a shared vision of a seamless creative experience and are creating this unprecedented alliance to shape the future of music making and audio production.

With strong identities of their own, Native Instruments and iZotope will each continue to operate independently, serving the global creator community with the strength of their unique capabilities. There will be no structural changes to either entity, with both continuing under the same leadership, and with the same accomplished teams. Mark Ethier, co-founder and CEO of iZotope, and Constantin Koehncke, CEO of Native Instruments, will work alongside each other on the future and vision of this new alliance as co-presidents of the group.

There’s never been a more exciting time for the production of sound, with the appetite for a streamlined experience only increasing. The goal of this alliance is to better support the creative community through close collaboration, the sharing of knowledge and technology and the enhancement of product offerings. As a collective force, this duo will generate a more cohesive audio ecosystem, to help creators no matter where they are in their journey.

As Mark Ethier, iZotope co-founder and CEO, explains, “iZotope and Native Instruments share the same mission to inspire and enable creativity. We both look to make it easier for engineers, producers and musicians to realize their creative vision, and together, we will be able to break down barriers that have stood in the way of that goal for decades. With iZotope’s intelligent processing, and Native Instrument’s innovative offerings, I can’t wait to see what artists will create.”

Constantin Koehncke, CEO of Native Instruments, adds, “As more and more people are getting into music making they are looking for easy access to the building blocks for their journey. Joining forces with iZotope brings us yet another step closer to fulfilling our shared mission to empower producers of all levels with everything they need — from instruments and effects, to a supportive and thriving community. I cannot begin to imagine what our combined talent and technology can come up with to inspire artists and music creators worldwide.”

“Through our personal passions for music, we find Native Instruments and iZotope to be two impressive pillars of the audio creation industry. As we have gotten to know each company and their teams, we are convinced that they will transform and expand the industry by working together” concludes Matt Spetzler, Co-Head Europe and Partner at Francisco Partners. Adds Mario Razzini, Principal at Francisco Partners, “Our role is to champion their shared mission, providing strategic business support and resources to enable their success. We can’t wait to see what this group accomplishes for producers, engineers and musicians.”

About iZotope: Founded in 2001, iZotope designs software, plug-ins, hardware, and mobile apps powered by the highest quality audio processing, machine learning, and strikingly intuitive interfaces. Their intelligent audio technology helps musicians, music producers, and audio post engineers focus on their craft rather than the tech behind it. This past year marked a surge of creative expression within the iZotope community, with a 72% uptick in product usage and an 82% increase in new customers over 2019. Flagship innovations—like Ozone for mastering, RX for audio repair and the Spire recording platform—are the industry standard for people working in music, TV, film and podcasts, with accolades that include two Primetime Engineering Emmy Awards and a Scientific and Engineering Award from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. To support this new endeavor, Stifel acted as exclusive financial advisor to iZotope.

About Native Instruments: For more than 20 years, Native Instruments has been at the heart of musical innovation. They have established communities, pushed technological boundaries, and opened new creative horizons for amateurs and professionals alike. Since its founding in Berlin in 1996, Native Instruments has become one of the largest and most influential companies in the music technology industry, providing hardware and software to more than 1.5 million monthly active creators - from award-winning artists to first-time producers. Driven by their mission to make music creation more inclusive, Native Instruments aims to provide seamless experiences for music makers with more accessible points of entry. This past January, Francisco Partners, a leading global investment firm that specializes in partnering with technology businesses, invested in the company to help accelerate its growth trajectory.

About Francisco Partners: Francisco Partners is a leading global investment firm that specializes in partnering with technology and technology-enabled businesses. Since its launch over 20 years ago, Francisco Partners has invested in more than 300 technology companies, making it one of the most active and longstanding investors in the technology industry. With more than $25 billion in assets under management, the firm invests in opportunities where its deep sectoral knowledge and operational expertise can help companies realize their full potential. For more information on Francisco Partners, please visit www.franciscopartners.com.