Glen G. Mastroberte

Glen G. Mastroberte

Partner, Media and Entertainment; Mergers and Acquisitions; Artificial Intelligence
Glen Mastroberte represents buyers, sellers, investors, investment funds, independent production companies, distribution companies, financial institutions and producers in all legal and business aspects of the media and entertainment industries, including film and TV, music, sports and video gaming. He has a broad range of experience in representing strategic and financial investors, including private equity, in connection with mergers and acquisitions, partnerships, financings, joint ventures and strategic alliances.

Bio

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

In recognition of his work, Mr. Mastroberte has been honored in a variety of leading industry publications, including:

  • The Hollywood Reporter in its Power Lawyers Report
  • Variety repeatedly in its Legal Impact Report and Dealmakers Impact Report, which highlights top attorneys working in film, television and digital media
  • Chambers USA in its Media & Entertainment: Transactional category
  • Los Angeles Business Journal as one of its Leaders of Influence and as part of its Thriving in Their 40s feature
  • The Envelope Magazine (from the Los Angeles Times) as one of its Entertainment Business Visionaries
  • The Legal 500 and The Best Lawyers in America

In addition, 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 include:

Film and Television

  • Reliance Industries Limited in its $8.5 billion joint venture with Viacom 18 Media Private Limited and The Walt Disney Company to combine Viacom 18 and Star India Private Limited
  • AGBO, the production company of Joe and Anthony Russo, in the sale of a major stake to Nexon at an enterprise value of more than $1 billion and several follow-on equity financings
  • 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 acquisitions 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
    • 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
  • Skydance Media in an equity financing by Tencent*
  • United Talent Agency in connection with several co-production transactions
  • Byron Allen’s Allen Media Broadcasting in its acquisition of four network-affiliate stations of Bayou City Broadcasting*
  • 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*
  • Entertainment One in its acquisition of 51% of The Mark Gordon Company*
  • unscripted television production company Glassman Media in its acquisition by Endeavor Content
  • 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*
  • 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*
  • television production company Made Up Stories in the sale of a minority interest to Endeavor Content
  • Marvel Studios founder David Maisel in the formation and financing of Mythos Studios
  • 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*

Music and Podcasts

  • OVO Sound, an independent record label owned by Drake:
    • acquisition of Warner Music Group’s 50% interest in the label and related financing transactions
    • investment and partnership with Todd Moscowitz-led and Sony Music Entertainment Inc.-backed Santa Anna Label Group
  • 300 Entertainment — a music label representing artists such as Megan Thee Stallion, Young Thug and Gunna — in its acquisition by Warner Music Group
  • Alamo Records, a major independent music label, in its:
    • acquisition of Universal Music Group’s 50% interest in the label
    • sale of a majority stake to Sony Music Entertainment
  • gamma Media, the music label founded by former Apple Music global creative director Larry Jackson and veteran music producer Ike Yousef, in connection with several financing and acquisition transactions
  • We The Best, the music label of DJ Khaled, in connection with several label and music catalog transactions
  • Todd Moscowitz in a joint venture with Sony Music Entertainment, Inc. to form music label and artist services company Santa Anna Label Group
  • Tommy Mottola’s Latin-focused music label Ntertain in various formation, financing and acquisition transactions
  • Michael Caren and Artist Partner Group in connection with several joint venture and financing transactions
  • Downtown Music in connection with its sales process
  • ONErpm in connection with various corporate matters
  • 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
  • the co-owners of a major music label in their acquisition of a 50% interest in the label-owned Warner Music Group

Private Equity

  • Ares Capital Management LLC in its significant investment in LiveBarn, Inc.
  • Athletes First in the sale of a majority stake to MASTRY Ventures and General Catalyst
  • Platinum Equity Advisors, LLC in its concurrent acquisitions of the distribution business of Deluxe Entertainment Services Inc. and CineVizion
  • Shamrock Capital Advisors, LLC in its acquisitions 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
    • the catalog proceeds of a well-known singer, songwriter and producer in a RECAP (Retained Equity in Catalog with Assignment of Proceeds) transaction
  • gamma Media in connection with several private equity-backed financings
  • Litmus Music in connection with its financing arrangements with the Carlyle Group

Financing and Distribution for Film, Television and Streaming Production

  • Kenya Barris in the formation of BET Studios with ViacomCBS
  • A24 Films in its multiyear, 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”*
  • Facebook with content agreements for the Facebook Live platform*
  • Hidden Empire Film Group in connection with production and distribution agreements with Sony, Lionsgate and others, including relating to corresponding production loans
  • 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
    • 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
    • its production and financing agreement with Netflix for a new series based on the 1982 film “The Dark Crystal”*
  • Media Res in its debt financing for the Apple TV series “The Morning Show”*
  • the underlying rights holder in connection with the Christopher Nolan film “Oppenheimer”
  • The Economist in several agreements to co-develop and co-produce content with U.S. production companies
  • a multi-picture production deal with Universal

Sports and Live Events

  • SharkNinja in connection with a sponsorship and facility naming rights deal with the Utah Royals FC of the National Women’s Soccer League
  • the NHL in connection with the renegotiation of its regional sports network agreements with Diamond Sports/Bally Sports
  • leading sports agency Athletes First in connection with various corporate transactions
  • an investor in connection with an investment in the NHL’s Seattle Kraken*
  • Blue Man Group Holdings in its direct owners’ sale of 100% of the company to Cirque du Soleil, the world’s largest theatrical producer*
  • a client in connection with a bid for an NFL team

Branding, Endorsements and Other

  • SharkNinja in connection with:
    • a branding and product placement deal with Apple Studios for APEX, a movie starring and produced by Brad Pitt
    • a major brand ambassador deal with David Beckham
    • endorsement deals with European football legend Thierry Henry, a top LPGA player, a Latin music star and others
  • Reformation in connection with its clothing line with Kasey Musgraves
  • Hailey Bieber’s Rhode Skin in connection with various corporate matters

* Represents transactions handled by Mr. Mastroberte at another global law firm prior to joining Skadden

Credentials

Education

  • J.D., University of California at Los Angeles School of Law, 2002 (Order of the Coif)
  • M.Sc., London Business School, 2004
  • B.S., University of Arizona, 1997 (magna cum laude)

Admissions

  • California

Glen G. Mastroberte

Partner, Media and Entertainment; Mergers and Acquisitions; Artificial Intelligence
glen.mastroberte@skadden.com