Native Instruments Acquired by inMusic Brands

inMusic Signs Definitive Agreement to Acquire Native Instruments

inMusic Brands, the Rhode Island-based music technology group behind Akai Professional, Moog Music, Denon DJ, Numark, M-Audio, and Rane, announced on 8 May 2026 that it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Native Instruments*, the Berlin-based company behind Kontakt, Maschine, Traktor, and the NKS (Native Kontrol Standard, a protocol that links hardware controllers to software instruments) integration format. The deal also brings iZotope, Plugin Alliance, and Brainworx into the inMusic portfolio. The transaction is expected to close in the coming weeks, subject to customary legal conditions.

The acquisition ends a four-month insolvency process. Native Instruments filed for preliminary insolvency on 27 January 2026, confirmed by court documents from the Charlottenburg Local Court and first reported by Peter Kirn at CDM. The underlying cause was a debt load that company filings put at approximately £250 million against roughly $25 million in annual EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation), a ratio that could not be sustained once interest rates rose. That debt had accumulated under Francisco Partners (a US-based private equity firm), which had held a majority stake in NI since 2021.

The European Commission cleared an acquisition of Native Instruments by Bridgepoint Group Holdings and Bain Capital Credit in November 2025, but that deal subsequently collapsed, and the insolvency filing followed. inMusic is the buyer that completed the full process.

What the Deal Covers

The acquisition covers the full Native Instruments group. Kontakt* is the dominant sampling platform (a piece of software that plays back and processes large collections of recorded instrument sounds, called sample libraries) for third-party content developers. Maschine is a groove production system sold as both standalone hardware and software. Traktor is a professional DJ software platform with its own hardware controller line. NKS is the integration standard that maps hardware controller knobs and pads directly to plugin parameters and preset browsing.

Also included are three brands that had operated as subsidiaries under NI Group since NI's Francisco Partners-era acquisition period: iZotope, maker of Ozone mastering software and RX audio repair tools (covered previously in our iZotope Ozone 10 and RX 10 article and iZotope Neutron 4 article); Plugin Alliance, a subscription-based plugin platform with 200+ plugins from 40+ brands; and Brainworx, developer of SSL channel strip emulations and the bx_ processing range. These subsidiaries had been watched closely throughout the insolvency period, with real uncertainty over whether they might be sold separately.

inMusic brings in its own substantial portfolio: Akai Professional, Moog Music (whose Messenger, Spectravox, and Mavis synthesizers we have covered at Moog Messenger, Moog Spectravox, and Moog Mavis), Denon DJ, Numark, Rane, M-Audio, Alesis, AIR Music Technology, BFD Drums, and Engine DJ. Founded in 1992, inMusic has spent three decades acquiring and running music hardware brands under operational rather than financial-investor ownership.

How the Relationship Began

The acquisition did not come from nowhere. In 2025, inMusic and Native Instruments announced a collaboration bringing NKS integration to Akai Pro MPK keyboard controllers and M-Audio Oxygen controllers, while Native Instruments instrument sounds arrived on the Akai MPC standalone platform (the MPC is a self-contained music production device that runs software natively without a host computer) for the first time. That commercial partnership, publicly framed as a product integration, appears to have been the relationship that gave inMusic an edge in the acquisition process.

Jack O’Donnell, CEO of inMusic, said: “Native Instruments represents everything we look for in a partner: exceptional products, a deeply engaged community, and a clear point of view on what musicians want. Our work together has already shown how strong this combination can be. Bringing these platforms together allows us to move faster, deepen integration, and build better tools for creators.” In a separate statement he added: “The tools you rely on today will keep working, and the tools you will rely on tomorrow are actively being built.”

Nick Williams, CEO of Native Instruments, said: “Finding the right partner has been our goal throughout this process. 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. This is the beginning of a new chapter for Native Instruments and for the community that has stood with us.”

What Changes Now

In the short term: nothing. Both companies confirm that business continues normally across all Native Instruments brands and territories. Products, services, platforms, and customer support remain fully operational. All existing licenses remain valid. The two companies operate independently until the transaction legally closes.

inMusic says it will share detailed integration plans as the process progresses. No specific product roadmap, personnel changes, or restructuring has been announced.

Writing directly to the Native Instruments community on 8 May 2026, Nick Williams addressed the past four months and the users who stayed: “The loyalty you have shown us through one of the most challenging periods in Native Instruments’ history is something we will not forget. From the partners who supported us, to the artists who kept creating, to the customers who kept showing up: thank you so much. This moment belongs to all of you as much as it does to us.” The full letter is on the NI blog.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are my existing Native Instruments licenses still valid?
Yes. Both companies confirm that products, services, platforms, and customer support remain fully available. Existing licenses are not affected by the ownership change.

What happens to iZotope, Plugin Alliance, and Brainworx?
All three brands are included in the acquisition and are not being sold separately. inMusic has committed to continued investment across all brands and product lines. Users of our iZotope Music Production Suite 5 article and those following the Plugin Alliance CORE and PRO subscriptions can expect those platforms to continue normally.

What is NKS and why does it matter here?
NKS (Native Kontrol Standard) is a protocol that enables hardware controllers to display plugin parameters, browse presets, and trigger instrument responses directly from physical knobs, pads, and screens, without relying on a host computer’s display. inMusic already integrated NKS into Akai MPK controllers and M-Audio Oxygen controllers in 2025. Ownership of both the NKS standard and Akai/M-Audio hardware removes the commercial negotiation layer from that integration, which could accelerate deeper NKS support across all inMusic controllers.

Will Maschine be discontinued now that inMusic also owns the Akai MPC?
Nothing in the announcement indicates any product discontinuation. Maschine is primarily a software-centric groove production environment; the Akai MPC is more hardware-standalone focused, with its own operating system and independent workflow. Both have large, active user bases. Eliminating either product line would carry significant business risk. We will cover any product news as it emerges; the Komplete 14 and Action Strings 2 articles give context on recent NI software directions.

Will Traktor continue to be developed?
inMusic has not made Traktor-specific announcements. The general commitment is to continued investment across all brands. Traktor is the professional DJ software of choice for many club DJs and is strategically relevant to Denon DJ and Rane, two inMusic hardware brands that sell DJ gear directly into the same market.

Will Plugin Alliance’s subscription model change?
No pricing or subscription changes have been announced. Plugin Alliance currently offers CORE and PRO subscription tiers covering its 200+ plugin catalogue.

When does the deal officially close?
inMusic says the transaction is expected to close in the coming weeks, subject to customary closing conditions. No specific date has been given.