One year after coming together, Muse Group and Hal Leonard are driving meaningful change in collaboration with partners in the music publishing industry.

Partner-centric growth is essential to our continued success, in 2025 and beyond. What does partner-centric growth mean to us? Collaborating with the very best in the music industry to expand and build the global music market and community. These are our target four key areas in 2025:

• Leveraging data to help our partners grow
• Expanding investment in print publishing
• Creating new revenue opportunities for publishers
• Modernizing business models to create new revenue opportunities for publishers, and improve sheet music accessibility

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^{A Smarter, Data-Driven Approach}‍

The way musicians engage with sheet music is changing, and data is central to our strategy. Our platforms, including MuseScore, Ultimate Guitar, and MuseClass, provide deep insights into what musicians search for, what they play, and what drives demand. We are committed to sharing these insights with our partners, helping them make smarter decisions about inventory, marketing, and distribution.

For example, recent data showed that Wicked songbooks were selling well on Amazon but not in retail stores. By identifying these gaps, we can work with our partners to optimize product placement, refine marketing strategies, and improve audience targeting. This kind of data-backed decision-making helps publishers and retailers capitalize on trends and maximize revenue opportunities.

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Strengthening Print Publishing

While digital sheet music continues to grow, print remains a significant revenue driver for publishers, and we are increasing our commitment to it. Hal Leonard is investing in cutting-edge equipment and expanding production capacity to ensure that both new releases and back-catalog titles remain widely available. By modernizing printing, distribution, and inventory processes, we are creating more revenue opportunities for publishers.

To complement print, we are expanding hybrid print-digital offerings, bundling strategies, and on-demand printing solutions, allowing musicians, educators, and retailers to access and sell sheet music more flexibly.

As part of our digital expansion, Hal Leonard scores are now available for MuseScore subscribers, and Hal Leonard songbooks can be accessed via Ultimate Guitar and MuseScore. This integration broadens accessibility for musicians worldwide, providing more ways to engage with officially licensed sheet music.

At the same time, we are investing in new business models to modernize how musicians learn, play and create. Our focus is on ensuring accessibility while creating new monetization opportunities for publishers in an evolving market. Through subscription models, dynamic licensing, and integrated learning tools, we are bridging the gap between traditional publishing and digital opportunities.

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Expanding Leadership in Musical Instrument Distribution

We are working to strengthen and expand our position as a leading distributor. With a renewed focus on sales, marketing, and logistics, our goal in 2025 is to provide best-in-class distribution, brand support, and service to our extensive network of resellers and retailers.

Today, we warehouse, market, and sell products from over 60 manufacturers, offering more than 15,000 SKUs to the MI market. By optimizing distribution channels and inventory management, we're ensuring that retailers have access to the most in-demand products, backed by an efficient global logistics network.

Beyond the United States, our reach extends globally through Hal Leonard Europe, based in London, which distributes MI products across international markets. By aligning sales strategy with real-time market data, we are helping manufacturers, retailers, and resellers optimize inventory, increase sales, and strengthen brand positioning.

For example, in 2024, Jet Guitars & Flight Ukuleles, two well-established Slovenian brands under the same ownership, saw 20% growth compared to 2023 as a result of our partnership in the UK market.

Advancing Music Education

Last year, we launched MuseClass, our first major joint product designed to support educators. Since its introduction, the platform has grown rapidly, providing teachers with AI-powered tools to streamline instruction and engage students more effectively. In 2024, we expanded its capabilities by integrating Hal Leonard’s renowned educational content, including structured learning materials and interactive features tailored for music classrooms.

MuseClass has since partnered with J.W. Pepper, one of the most trusted sheet music retailers, to make it easier for educators to access interactive learning tools alongside their sheet music purchases. Coming later this year, educators purchasing selected Hal Leonard titles from J.W. Pepper will be able to add digital MuseClass versions of their music at the point of purchase, seamlessly integrating interactive learning tools with traditional sheet music. This collaboration will help teachers bring digital practice solutions into their classrooms while maintaining the flexibility of printed scores.

Our focus remains on making music education more accessible and adaptable. By leveraging AI, digital learning tools, and an extensive catalog of print and digital resources, we are providing teachers worldwide with everything they need to make their jobs easier while ensuring their students have a meaningful, enjoyable start to their music journey.

Our leaders on partner-centric growth

“The way musicians engage with sheet music is evolving, and our role is to support this shift by providing smarter, more accessible solutions. By leveraging data and strengthening our partnerships, we’re helping publishers and retailers make informed decisions that drive real growth. Our focus remains on expanding opportunities for everyone in the music ecosystem—whether through print, digital, or new business models that create lasting value.” – Mo Chahdi, Chief Operating Officer at Muse Group

“At Hal Leonard, we see the future of music publishing as a balance between tradition and innovation. Print remains a cornerstone, but digital accessibility is equally important. By investing in both, we’re ensuring that musicians, educators, and publishers have the best tools and revenue opportunities available. Joining forces with Muse Group has accelerated this vision—giving us more advanced technology, and deeper data insights that help us navigate key markets like North America and Europe. Together, we’re building a stronger, more connected industry that benefits all of our partners.” – Larry Morton, former President of Hal Leonard and current Executive Board Advisor at Muse Group