Animaj strikes music deal with Magic Star, SMP

A massive global music tie-up just handed Animaj outside muscle for distribution and publishing while it keeps a tight grip on its own IP vault.

Animaj locks in Magic Star and Sony Music Publishing

• Animaj inked a worldwide music pact with Magic Star and Sony Music Publishing.
• Magic Star will handle the global rollout of Animaj recordings.
• Sony Music Publishing takes charge of administering song rights worldwide.
• Gregory Dray framed the setup as a long-game, IP-first play.

What the deal actually covers

• Animaj folds Pocoyo, Maya the Bee, HeyKids, and Super Sema into the agreement.
• Those core catalogs sit at the heart of its kids and family slate.
• Distribution and publishing get outsourced, while ownership stays in-house.
• Dray stressed that creative direction remains anchored at Animaj.

Scale and recent cash injection

• Animaj claims 242 million Monthly Active Users on YouTube.
• The company ranks itself as the fifth-largest digital kids audience globally.
• Last year brought an 85 million dollar funding round led by HarbourView Equity Partners.
• Bpifrance and Left Lane Capital joined that investment push.

Magic Star and Sony’s roles

• Magic Star operates as The Orchard’s kids-focused division.
• Will Speer highlighted plans to spark deeper engagement through audio strategy.
• Rob Stratton of Sony Music Publishing UK pointed to expanding global reach.
• Services span distribution, marketing, and YouTube channel management for family audiences.