Music licensing platform Melodie has raised $1 million at a $15 million valuation, a more than four-fold increase from the $4 million when the software startup previously raised $600,000 in September 2021.

The increase included follow-on investments from Code Barrel founder Nick Menere and co-owner of The Drop Festival Peter Strain.

The money will be used for growth in Melodie’s three cores segments – B2C, B2B, B2B2C – with a focus on the company’s growing footprint in the US.

Founder and CEO Evan Buist said it’s been a strong 18 months catalog growth, broadcast placements and customer acquisition for Melodie.

“Royalties are on the move and LTM revenues are up 250%. I am confident that we have a strong growth trajectory with offshore revenue will grow exponentially over the coming months and years as we expand into new ones areas,” he said.

“Marking our fifth year of operation, we are now at the stage of building a global presence and we are committed to playing an important role in the development and commercialization of great Australian talent.”

Technology-based music licensing now spans the breadth of the creator economy, from film to TV synchronizing with more recently user-generated content-centric creative technology platforms via the Melody APIwhich now receives over 2 million search and download calls daily.

The Australian music library includes ARIA-winning composer Helena Czajka (Bluey) and Brendan Gallagher from Karma County, like Yuin Nation hip-hop artist, Nooky and singer/songwriter James Henry.

Buist said customer demand is driving demand while there is a need for investment in the developing First Nations music, Melodie has committed to investing a minimum of $25,000 in developing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists for synchronization capabilities through its platform.

“Our customers’ demand for Licensed authentic music from First Nations artists has never been greater,” he said.

“Our goal is to have one driving force behind the development of a First Nations fencing economy: engage and connect Australia’s incredible Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists with the countless opportunities around music synchronization and royalties.”

The company also recently launched a US sync division under an LA industry veteran Gary Helsingerputting music in tv shows like Armed & Dangerous, Real Housewives, Matt Wright’s Wild Territory, Bondi Rescue, Lift the Ice, EVOLVE, ninja warrior And Outback car hunters.

Buist said that Melodie platform music can now be heard around the world with over 2 million minutes of music broadcast on free-to-air and VOD platforms in Australia alone, and local music may be widely heard globally.

“We are committed to contribute to development and implementation of Australia’s national cultural policy,” he said.

“In line with that, this week we launched a first-of-its-kind ‘Australia’ button on our music licensing platformenabling local businesses, brands and screen producers to search for music produced only by Australian artists and composers.

“Using Australian music in the making content is an easy way for local businesses to get behind our industry.”