The End of an Era? Native Instruments Files for Insolvency
If you follow this channel, you know it’s been a recurring theme on The Sunday Brunch and DJ Chit Chat: “Where is Native Instruments?”
We have watched for years as competitors released generation after generation of new hardware, while NI seemed stuck in neutral. We’ve asked why Traktor S4 successors never materialized and why the software roadmap seemed so uncertain.
Today, we received a devastating answer.
According to multiple reports breaking across the industry, Native Instruments has officially filed for preliminary insolvency in Germany.
What Does This Mean?
This is essentially the German equivalent of filing for bankruptcy protection. A provisional administrator has been appointed by a Berlin court to examine the company’s assets and determine if there is enough money to cover the costs of the proceedings.
The stated goal right now is not immediate liquidation, but restructuring. Native Instruments intends to continue business operations while the administrator assesses the situation and looks for future prospects for the company.
The “Soundwide” Disaster
While this news is shocking, it isn’t entirely surprising to those watching closely. This move appears to be the final fallout from the failed “Soundwide” experiment.
Several years ago, investor Francisco Partners bought majority stakes in Native Instruments and iZotope, eventually merging them along with Plugin Alliance and Brainworx into a supergroup called Soundwide. That branding was quietly dropped last year, and the companies were unceremoniously split back apart. It seems NI has not been able to recover from the financial strain of that failed merger and previous rounds of layoffs.
The Video: The Real Truth
This article is just the surface level report. In my latest video, I dive deep into what this actually means for you as a user.
We talk about the future of the ecosystem, from Kontakt and Maschine to the very uncertain future of Traktor. We also discuss the reality that the brands you use daily may very well be sold off piecemeal to the highest bidder in the coming months.
If you own NI hardware or software, you need to watch this breakdown.
