LOS ANGELES, April 23, 2020 — AdRev, the comprehensive digital rights management provider, has acquired Simbals, the audio and metadata analytics company based in Bordeaux, France. The transaction integrates Simbals’ patented audio fingerprinting technology and machine learning-driven analytics into AdRev’s existing technology used by audio rights holders to ensure fair and accurate usage and reporting at scale. Further, the acquisition brings in-house Simbals’ dedicated team of audio and signal analysis researchers and scientists, along with key technology talent.

Founded by a team of researchers from the University of Bordeaux, Simbals has developed a global reputation as experts in audio signal processing and data structure algorithms. Simbals’ audio content recognition enables the accurate identification at scale of music used in various video and audio formats, such as TV, film, and radio, as well as in live performances or on streaming platforms. The integration will further AdRev’s mission of delivering a platform agnostic solution to help rights holders identify and protect copyrights. Prior to the acquisition, Simbals served as a key technology partner for AdRev.

"Matthias, Pascal, Pierre and Florian have built an incredible suite of technology and tools that help empower a thriving, democratic music ecosystem. With the new user generated content platforms regularly emerging, and the need for platforms to meet the changing demands of copyright legislation around the world, the technology developed by Simbals is more important than ever. The entire Simbals team are brilliant, humble, and hard working, and I couldn't be more pleased to officially welcome them to AdRev,” said Noah Becker, Founder and President of AdRev.

“All of us at Simbals are excited to build on our existing, collaborative relationship with AdRev. We develop innovative solutions for automatic audio identification, personalized music recommendation and prediction of music-related trends. AdRev is the perfect partner to grow and provide our disruptive solutions to the global music industry,” said Matthias Robine, Founder, Researcher and Product Director of Simbals.

In addition to bringing in-house Simbals’ proprietary audio identification technology and metadata analytics, the acquisition adds several respected audio and signal analysis researchers and data scientists to AdRev’s team for expanded R&D capabilities. The team of scientists will forward new ways to apply audio identification and analysis to better serve the music industry. Future applications of their research could include music creation, storage, archiving, and more.

For more information about AdRev, visit https://adrev.net/.

About AdRev

AdRev is a comprehensive digital rights management solution that generates unparalleled payouts in earned revenue and found time for creators of all types and sizes. Pairing innovative technology with high-touch service by genuine industry experts, AdRev is customized to each rights holder’s unique needs. This hybrid approach allows for more thorough detections throughout UGC platforms, the industry’s most accurate claims, and reliably higher returns to creators. Founded in 2012 to help musicians navigate the wilds of user generated content monetization on YouTube, AdRev has grown into the industry’s standard bearer for innovation and equity in digital rights. AdRev was acquired by its parent company, Downtown Music Holdings, in 2019.

About Simbals

Simbals is an innovative company founded in 2012 in Bordeaux, France. Awarded by the French Research Ministry and member of FrenchTech, Simbals develops innovative technologies for the global music and audio industry, such as fingerprinting or recommendation systems. Simbals’ mission is to provide the most useful solutions from technology to help the industry by providing the best user experiences among the massive amounts of music data available: audio identification, automatic tagging, AI and machine learning processes, recommendation and playlisting systems, among many other technology and software currently in development.