Alfred Music has become part of Peaksware Holdings, a group of companies which includes music notation technology firm MakeMusic.
The two firms – Alfred and MakeMusic – will continue to operate independently while sharing resources within the group to “advance innovations”, provide additional content, and leverage distribution channels.
“Our long-term goal at Peaksware is to build an end-to-end ecosystem that connects composers, publishers, educators, directors, and musicians,’ explained Peaksware CEO, Gear Fisher. “Alfred brings additional distribution opportunities for artists and composers while expanding the repertoire within SmartMusic for teachers and musicians.”
“We are excited about working with the Peaksware portfolio of companies and more closely with MakeMusic to significantly enhance Alfred Music’s mission since 1922 of helping the world experience the joy of making music,” said Ron Manus, CEO and chairman of Alfred Music. “The combination of the industry’s leading music education publisher with the industry’s leading technology innovator will excite the entire music community. This is great news for our customers, publishing partners, composers, arrangers, and musicians who will benefit from working with both companies.”
The main Alfred office will remain in Van Nuys, California and additional offices will stay in their current New York, Miami, UK, Singapore, and Germany locations.
“We are very excited by the opportunity to work more closely with Alfred Music on many levels.” said Fred Flowerday, vice president of product strategy for MakeMusic. “Expanding the breadth and depth of content available in SmartMusic is exactly what our customers are requesting. Additionally, by combining our strengths, expertise, and experience, we are developing an ecosystem that paves the way forward for all publishing partners, composers, teachers and musicians.”
MakeMusic owns Finale – the industry standard for music notation software used by more than one million students and 20,000 teachers. It recently acquired Weezic, an Augmented Sheet Music creator across a number of platforms including Chromebooks, iPads, Mac and PC.
