InMusic acquires Native Instruments, ending bankruptcy uncertainty and consolidating music technology portfolio
Native Instruments' future is secured as the acquisition resolves previous bankruptcy fears and places its software brands under the same corporate umbrella as Akai.
InMusic has announced the acquisition of Native Instruments, a move that places the German software and hardware firm under the same corporate umbrella as its long-time rival, Akai. This transaction marks a significant consolidation in the music gear industry, uniting major hardware and software entities into what has been described as a juggernaut. The deal effectively resolves the bankruptcy uncertainty that had previously cast doubt over Native Instruments' future, providing clarity for the company and its ecosystem of products.
CEO Nick Williams confirmed that business operations will continue normally while the transaction finalises. This assurance comes as Native Instruments recently launched Komplete 26, a comprehensive bundle containing over 190 digital instruments and 180,000 presets, which includes a new version of the Abysynth synthesizer. The acquisition also brings Native Instruments' respected software brands, including Plugin Alliance, iZotope, and Brainworx, under the management of InMusic.
The strategic implications of the deal are expected to deepen the integration between software and hardware. It is anticipated that more Native Instruments software will appear on Akai hardware, such as the MPC XL, building upon the existing partnership where InMusic and Native Instruments previously collaborated to bring plugins to Akai devices. This follows a period where Native Instruments was known for respected synthesizers like Reaktor and Massive, which are widely used across multiple music genres.
However, the consolidation does raise questions regarding the future alignment of hardware lines. It remains unclear how Native Instruments' standalone Maschine+ hardware will fit into the existing Akai product line, which already features multiple standalone grooveboxes. Furthermore, there is potential product overlap in the world of MIDI controllers, given that both Akai and Native Instruments manufacture popular devices in this sector.
InMusic, already described as a music gear super-company, now holds a vast portfolio that includes Moog, M-Audio, Denon, and Numark alongside the newly acquired assets. While the specific strategic direction for resolving potential hardware competition between Akai and Native Instruments has not yet been defined, the acquisition ensures the stability of the business as the deal moves toward completion.
