Glen G. Mastroberte

Mr. Mastroberte handles general corporate matters related to the financing, production, licensing, distribution and use of motion pictures, television programs and other intellectual property assets. He also represents buyers and sellers of music companies, labels, catalogs and other music assets.

Mr. Mastroberte was recognized in The Hollywood Reporter’s Power Lawyers Report and by Variety in its Legal Impact Report (2021) and repeatedly in its Dealmakers Impact Report (2021 and 2022), which highlights top attorneys working in film, television and digital media. He also has been named in Chambers USA in the Media & Entertainment: Transactional category, named a Leader of Influence in Los Angeles Business Journal’s “Thriving in Their 40s” feature and included in The Best Lawyers in America. Mr. Mastroberte is a member of the media and entertainment practice that was named a 2022 Practice Group of the Year by Law360.

His representative transactions at Skadden include:

Film and Television Mergers and Acquisitions / Strategic Alliances

• beIN Media Group in its $375 million sale of a 49% stake in Miramax, LLC to ViacomCBS Inc.;
• AGBO, the production company of Joe and Anthony Russo, in the sale of a major stake to Nexon at an enterprise value of over $1 billion and several follow-on equity financings;
• Embracer Group, a Swedish video game and entertainment conglomerate, in:
  • its acquisition of Middle-earth Enterprises, including the intellectual property rights to “The Lord of the Rings” and “The Hobbit,” literary works by J.R.R. Tolkien; and
  • its acquisition of Dark Horse Media, one of the largest U.S. independent comics companies;
• Tencent subsidiary Funcom in its acquisition of Cabinet Group, owner of “Conan the Barbarian” and other iconic intellectual property;
• Platinum Equity Advisors, LLC in its concurrent acquisitions of the distribution business of Deluxe Entertainment Services Inc. and CineVizion;
• Kenya Barris in the formation of BET Studios with ViacomCBS;
• unscripted television production company Glassman Media in its acquisition by Endeavor Content;
• television production company Made Up Stories in the sale of a minority interest to Endeavor Content; and
• Marvel Studios founder David Maisel in the formation and financing of Mythos Studios.

Music and Podcast Mergers and Acquisitions / Strategic Alliances

• Alamo Records, a major independent music label, in its sale of a majority stake to Sony Music Entertainment;
• 300 Entertainment, a music label representing artists such as Megan Thee Stallion, Young Thug and Gunna, in its acquisition by Warner Music Group;
• OVO Sound, an independent music label founded by Drake, in general corporate and M&A matters;
• the co-owners of a major music label in their acquisition of a 50% interest in the label-owned Warner Music Group;
• Todd Moscowitz in a joint venture with Sony Music Entertainment, Inc. to form a new music label and artist services company called Santa Anna Label Group;
• Shamrock Capital Advisors, LLC in:
  • its acquisition of the masters and other rights to Taylor Swift’s first six albums, including some of the most popular recordings and best-selling albums of all time; and
  • the acquisition of the catalog proceeds of a well-known singer, songwriter and producer in a RECAP (Retained Equity in Catalog with Assignment of Proceeds) transaction;
• a major independent music distribution company in the sale of a majority stake to Sony Music Entertainment, Inc.;
• Spotify Technology S.A. in its acquisition of Bill Simmons’ company, including The Ringer podcast; and
• Tommy Mottola’s Latin-focused music label Ntertain in various formation, financing and acquisition transactions.

Film, Television and Streaming Production, Financing and Distribution

• United Talent Agency in connection with several co-production transactions;
• The Jim Henson Company in connection with:
  • the production, financing and distribution of the rebooted “Fraggle Rock” children’s series, including a production loan from Union Bank and a co-production and a distribution agreement with Apple TV+, and the acquisition by Apple TV+ of the distribution rights to the original “Fraggle Rock” series; and
  • the production, financing and distribution of the “Word Party/ Math Party” children’s series, including a production loan from CIT Bank and a distribution agreement with Netflix;
• a multi-picture production deal with Universal;
• Hidden Empire Film Group in connection with production and distribution agreements with Sony, Lionsgate and others, including relating to corresponding production loans;
• The Economist in several agreements to co-develop and co-produce content with U.S. production companies; and
• the underlying rights holder in connection with the Christopher Nolan film “Oppenheimer.”

His representative transactions prior to joining Skadden include:

Mergers and Acquisitions / Strategic Alliances

• Byron Allen’s Allen Media Broadcasting in its acquisition of four network-affiliate stations of Bayou City Broadcasting;
• former New Regency CEO Brad Weston in the creation of MAKEREADY, a global content production company with backing from Entertainment One and worldwide distribution by Universal Pictures;
• Blue Man Group Holdings in its direct owners’ sale of 100% of the company to Cirque du Soleil, the world’s largest theatrical producer;
• MGM in its acquisition of reality television production company Evolution Media, producer of “The Real Housewives of Orange County,” “The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” and “Vanderpump Rules,” among other series;
• Participant Media in its acquisition of actor Rainn Wilson’s digital entertainment company SoulPancake;
• RBF Productions in its acquisition of an ownership interest in the holding company of certain assets related to National Lampoon;
• Entertainment One in its acquisition of 51% of The Mark Gordon Company;
• television producer Mark Burnett’s company in its joint venture with Hearst Entertainment and subsequent sale of a controlling interest in the joint venture to MGM and the establishment of United Artists Media Group; and
• Leftfield Entertainment, an unscripted television production company, in its acquisition of a controlling interest in Sirens Media and the sale of a controlling interest of Leftfield Entertainment to ITV plc.

Film, Television and Streaming Production, Financing and Distribution

• A24 Films in its multi-year, multi-film financing and distribution deal with Apple, and with its co-production and co-financing agreement with Bron Studios for the film “Green Knight;”
• numerous production companies in all aspects of development, production, debt and equity financing and distribution arrangements, including: Armory/Zeal Productions, Burn Later Productions, China Lion Productions, Dolphin Films, Exclusive Media, Foxtail Entertainment, Freedom Media, Hidden Empire Film Group, The Jim Henson Company, June Pictures, Macro Ventures, Morgan Creek Productions, Odd Lot Entertainment, Page Fifty-Four Pictures, Route One Entertainment, Skydance Media and Voltage Pictures;
• Facebook with content agreements for the Facebook Live platform;
• The Jim Henson Company in its production and financing agreement with Netflix for a new series based on the ‘80s film “The Dark Crystal;”
• The Economist in several agreements to co-develop and co-produce content with U.S. production companies; and
• Media Res in its debt financing for the Apple TV series “The Morning Show.”

Corporate Financing and Other Matters

• Skydance Media in an equity financing by Tencent; and
• an investor in connection with an investment in the NHL’s Seattle Kraken.

Prior to joining Skadden, Mr. Mastroberte was counsel at another global law firm.