inMusic Acquires Native Instruments: The End of the Insolvency Story?
inMusic, Parent Company of Akai, Moog, and Denon DJ, Buys Native Instruments, iZotope, Plugin Alliance, and Brainworx
inMusic Acquires Native Instruments: The End of the Insolvency Story · Source: GEARNEWS
It’s official: inMusic is acquiring Native Instruments. The US-based music technology group behind brands like Akai Professional, Moog Music, Denon DJ, Numark, Rane, and M-Audio has signed a definitive agreement to acquire the Berlin-based company. With that, the long and for many users nerve-wracking insolvency process comes to a concrete end. And what an ending it is.
Native Instruments and inMusic: Everything You Need to Know
From Insolvency to Acquisition: The Context
Anyone who followed the Native Instruments insolvency story knows how drawn-out and exhausting this process has been. At the end of January 2026, Native Instruments filed for preliminary insolvency, triggered by debt accumulated under the previous investor structure led by Francisco Partners. In March, CEO Nick Williams confirmed that an active M&A process was underway with several interested parties from the audio and technology sectors. Now we know who won: inMusic Brands.
This is not a small deal. inMusic is one of the most experienced music technology companies in the world, founded in 1992, three decades in the business, with a portfolio spanning DJ gear, synthesizers, and studio technology. Akai Professional, Moog Music, Denon DJ, Numark, Rane, M-Audio, and Alesis are all part of the group. Native Instruments, iZotope, Plugin Alliance, and Brainworx now bring a complete software ecosystem with over 25 million registered users into the fold. That’s significant.
What the Acquisition Actually Means
The press release is clear on this point: business continues normally across all brands. Products, platforms, customer support, and downloads remain fully available. The transaction is expected to close in the coming weeks, subject to the usual legal formalities.
Jack O’Donnell, CEO of inMusic, puts the promise directly: continued investment across all brands and product lines, with a long-term focus on innovation for creators at every level. “The tools you rely on today will keep working, and the tools you will rely on tomorrow are actively being built,” his statement reads.
Nick Williams, CEO of Native Instruments, sounds both relieved and confident: “With inMusic we have found a partner whose beliefs and ambitions align with ours, and whose understanding of what these brands mean to musicians and producers gives us real confidence in what comes next.”
The Connection Between inMusic and Native Instruments
This acquisition didn’t come out of nowhere. In 2025, inMusic and Native Instruments announced a collaboration that brought NKS integration to Akai Pro MPK controllers and M-Audio Oxygen controllers, while Native Instruments sounds arrived on the MPC standalone platform for the first time. That partnership was apparently the first step toward a closer relationship that is now formally sealed. Interesting!
What Does This Mean for Users of Kontakt, Traktor, iZotope, and Plugin Alliance?
In the short term: nothing dramatic. All products continue to run, all licenses remain valid, support stays active. Medium term, the potential of this combination is considerable. Deeper integration between Akai hardware and Native Instruments software, stronger NKS support across the entire inMusic portfolio, and potentially a clearer product strategy than was painfully absent under Francisco Partners, all of that is now on the table.
For iZotope and Plugin Alliance users who were particularly unsettled in recent months, the message is equally clear: both brands remain part of the package. inMusic has said it will share detailed integration plans as the process progresses.
Verdict
This is the news that many users, producers, and studio owners have been waiting for since January 2026. Native Instruments, iZotope, Plugin Alliance, and Brainworx are landing in the hands of a company that makes hardware and software out of genuine passion, not a financial investor optimizing returns. Whether inMusic makes the right calls for developing these platforms going forward remains to be seen, but the starting position is significantly better than it was just a few months ago. We’ll be keeping a close eye on this one!
More Information
- Official statement from Nick Williams
- More on Native Instruments at Gearnews
- inMusic website
- Native Instruments at Thomann*
*Note: This article contains affiliate links that help us keep Gearnews running. The price for you always stays the same! If you buy something through these links, we receive a small commission. Thanks for your support!
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