EarRelevant Staff | 21 NOV 2024
FORT WORTH, Texas— First Inversion, a Texas-based holding company specializing in classical music services, has announced its acquisition of Divine Art Ltd., a prominent UK recording and publishing group. The deal, set to take effect on January 1, 2025, marks a new chapter for Divine Art, a globally recognized brand with a storied 32-year history in classical and contemporary music recordings.
Divine Art’s extensive catalog includes over 750 recordings across eight labels — Divine Art, Métier, Athene, Diversions, Historic Sound, Heritage Media, Pilgrim’s Star, and Ekkozone — and its music publishing division, Divine Art Edition. The acquisition ensures the continuation of the company’s legacy as its founder and CEO, Stephen Sutton, steps into retirement.
David Weuste, CEO of First Inversion, will assume leadership of Divine Art, bringing nearly a decade of experience collaborating with Sutton through his marketing company, Rosebrook Media. “Stephen Sutton has built a remarkable legacy by empowering artists and composers,” Weuste said. “The Divine Art catalog reflects a commitment to fascinating, challenging, and high-quality music — a foundation we intend to preserve and build upon as we navigate the evolving digital and social media landscape.”
Sutton, who founded Divine Art in 1992 in Northumberland, England, expressed mixed emotions about the transition. What began as a grassroots project to support a local church has grown into an award-winning label renowned for its innovation and global reach. “While I’m proud of what we’ve achieved, it feels like the right time to entrust the company to David,” Sutton said. “His vision and expertise will undoubtedly propel the labels to new heights.”
Under Sutton’s leadership, Divine Art expanded significantly, acquiring the Athene label for early music, the contemporary music-focused Métier Records, and other specialized imprints. It also launched the Historic Sound series and the Divine Art Edition publishing initiative. In recent years, the group incorporated Denmark’s Ekkozone label and built a global distribution network in partnership with Naxos.
The acquisition reflects First Inversion’s broader strategy to invest in and sustain classical music’s future. Founded in 2024, First Inversion encompasses Rosebrook Media and Rosebrook Classical, which provide marketing and artist services to performing arts organizations. The addition of Divine Art’s esteemed catalog aligns with the company’s mission to support and amplify diverse voices in the classical music world.
The partnership also retains Divine Art’s production collaboration with Mill Media Co., ensuring continuity in the quality and craftsmanship of its recordings.
With the transition, the Divine Art catalog will remain available to listeners worldwide through its established digital and physical distribution channels.
The move signals a promising future for both companies, blending the innovative leadership of First Inversion with Divine Art’s enduring commitment to artistic excellence. ■
EXTERNAL LINKS:
- Divine Art Records: divineartrecords.com
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