Music technology leader Native Instruments has initiated preliminary insolvency proceedings, raising concerns about its future direction. Known for its influential software products such as Massive, Traktor, and Kontakt, as well as hardware like Maschine+, Native Instruments also oversees renowned brands including iZotope, Brainworx, and Plugin Alliance.
Key details surrounding this insolvency process remain sparse, yet an administrator has been appointed to oversee the restructuring and potentially liquidate assets. With hundreds of employees at stake, the outcome of this financial turmoil is uncertain.
The company, which is predominantly owned by private equity firm Francisco Partners—also a major stakeholder in businesses like GoodRX and Verifone—has faced restructuring in the past, including layoffs between 2019 and 2020 before its acquisition.
While the future remains unclear, there are possibilities for new investors to come forward, allowing business operations to resume. Conversely, the company might disband or part with assets. Notably, Plugin Alliance has confirmed that it is not affected by this insolvency process, assuring customers that it will continue regular operations and release new plugins and software updates.
The situation poses significant concern for customers heavily invested in Native Instruments’ product ecosystem, particularly fans awaiting updates to flagship products like Maschine+. Furthermore, should the company’s software lineup enter the market, Akai might be positioned to acquire it, as they have begun integrating Native Instruments software into their MPC devices.
