Universal Music Poland has acquired the catalog business of Kayax Records.
The agreement, announced on Thursday (August 20), covers global recording rights to the label’s catalog plus the rights to the Kayax Records brand, Universal said.
It also sees Universal Music Poland enter a strategic partnership with Kayax‘s separate management business, Kayax Management, which is not part of the acquisition.
Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed by Universal or Kayax.
Founded in 2001 and based in Warsaw, Kayax Records has a roster that includes Smolik, Zakopower, Nosowska, Krzysztof Zalewski, Natalia Przybysz, Maria Peszek, Brodka, Artur Rojek, Mery Spolsky and Karaś/Rogucki, according to the announcement.
Records issued under the Kayax banner also include albums by Hey, Urszula Dudziak, Reni Jusis, Skubas and The Dumplings.
Kayax lists among its releases Brodka‘s Clashes, Krzysztof Zalewski‘s Złoto, Nosowska‘s Basta, Zakopower‘s Boso, Maria Peszek‘s Maria Awaria and Artur Rojek‘s Składam się z ciągłych powtórzeń.
Kayax puts its catalog at close to 130 albums.
The label also lists singer Kayah‘s 2009 album Skała among its releases.
Kayah said in May 2025, however, that she had recovered master recording rights to her albums released after 2003, and was no longer under a recording contract with Kayax Production & Publishing.
On her account, that would place her post-2003 recordings outside the catalog Universal has acquired.
“This is an exciting transaction for Universal Music Poland. From the very beginning I have admired Kayax Records‘ ability to combine artistic integrity with commercial success, while consistently discovering and nurturing some of the most important voices in contemporary Polish music.
“Combining Universal Music‘s global expertise with the experience of the Kayax Management team will help create new opportunities for both established artists and the next generation of talent.
“Combining Universal Music‘s global expertise with the experience of the Kayax Management team will help create new opportunities for both established artists and the next generation of talent.”
Maciej Kutak, Universal Music Group
“This is another important step in delivering our mission of connecting Polish artists with fans around the world,” said Maciej Kutak, CEO, Universal Music Poland & SVP Central Eastern Europe, Universal Music Group.
Tomasz “Tomik” Grewiński co-founded Kayax Records with Kayah in 2001.
He became sole owner in April 2025 after buying out her stake in Kayax Production & Publishing, the company behind the label.
Grewiński is owner and Managing Director of Kayax Management, which remains an independent company.
“For more than twenty years, we built Kayax Records together with extraordinary artists, creating a catalog that has become an important part of the history of contemporary Polish music.
“I am confident that Universal Music Poland will provide this body of work with the best possible foundation for its continued growth,” said Grewiński.
“Kayax Management is entering a new chapter. Together with my team, we want to focus even more on what we do best: developing the careers of the artists we represent and building their personal brands.
“We will continue strengthening our position by providing comprehensive artist management while expanding our roster with promising new talent and the next generation of artists,” Grewiński added.
“We will continue strengthening our position by providing comprehensive artist management while expanding our roster with promising new talent and the next generation of artists.”
Tomasz Grewiński, Kayax Records
Once the transaction completes, Kayax Records will keep its own identity as Universal Music Poland‘s fourth label.
Paweł Tetłak will take the role of Head of Kayax Records, while Jakub Barzak will oversee both Kayax Records and Polydor Recordings Poland.
Kayax said in its own announcement that it will no longer operate as a record label in its previous form, and is switching to a distribution and licensing model, with management and distribution as the pillars of the business.
The deal arrives during a run of Universal transactions in Europe.
UMG closed its USD $775 million acquisition of Downtown Music Holdings in February, after the European Commission cleared the deal on condition that Curve Royalty Systems was divested.
Before that, Universal acquired Netherlands-based music company 8Ball in 2025, having completed the full buyout of Belgium-founded [PIAS] the previous fall.
Universal Music Poland sits within Universal Music Central Europe.
Frank Briegmann is Chairman & CEO of that division and of Deutsche Grammophon.
Kutak was named CEO of Universal Music Poland and SVP, Central Eastern Europe in November 2021, with the role effective from January 1, 2022.
The role gave him responsibility for UMG operations in Greece, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, the Czech Republic and Hungary.
UMG Chief Operating Officer Boyd Muir told analysts on the company’s Q4 and FY 2025 earnings call on March 5 that UMG had bought 18 businesses in high-potential growth markets over the prior three years, describing the deals as “all relatively small” and focused on local-language repertoire.
On the same call, UMG Chairman and CEO Sir Lucian Grainge named geographic expansion as one of four pillars of the company’s next phase of growth, alongside artist and label services, superfan initiatives and AI.
Poland‘s recorded music revenues grew 22.3% YoY in 2024, according to the IFPI‘s Music in the EU report, behind only Sweden, Romania and Hungary in the bloc.
Sweden‘s 30.2% was inflated by a one-off private copying levy payment covering multiple years, the report noted; excluding that levy, its growth was around 6.5%.
Strip out that distortion and Poland was the third fastest-growing recorded music market in the EU in 2024, behind only Romania and Hungary.
The IFPI said the fastest-growing markets tended to be those in Central, Eastern and South-Eastern Europe.
The same report found that domestic artists took an average 50.9% of the places on countrywide year-end top 10 lists across the EU.Music Business Worldwide
On August 20, 2025, Universal Music Poland announced its acquisition of the catalog business of Kayax Records, marking a significant development in the Polish music landscape. This agreement includes global recording rights to Kayax’s extensive catalog and the rights to the Kayax Records brand. Alongside this acquisition, Universal Music Poland will enter a strategic partnership with Kayax Management, a separate entity that remains independent from the deal. The financial specifics of this transaction were not disclosed.
Kayax Records, established in 2001 and based in Warsaw, has built a diverse roster over the years, featuring prominent Polish artists such as Smolik, Zakopower, Nosowska, Krzysztof Zalewski, Natalia Przybysz, Maria Peszek, Brodka, Artur Rojek, Mery Spolsky, and Karaś/Rogucki. The label is also known for releasing influential albums from notable acts like Hey, Urszula Dudziak, Reni Jusis, Skubas, and The Dumplings. Kayax’s catalog reportedly comprises around 130 albums, showcasing a variety of musical styles and significant contributions to contemporary Polish music.
However, some nuances exist within the catalog acquired by Universal. Notably, singer Kayah announced in May 2025 that she regained master recording rights to her post-2003 albums and is no longer under contract with Kayax Production & Publishing. This means her recordings from that period will not be included in the catalog purchased by Universal.
Maciej Kutak, CEO of Universal Music Poland and SVP for Central Eastern Europe, expressed enthusiasm about the acquisition, praising Kayax Records for its blend of artistic integrity and commercial viability. He emphasized that the combination of Universal’s global expertise with Kayax Management’s experience would create new opportunities for both established artists and emerging talent. This sentiment underscores Universal’s commitment to connecting Polish artists with a broader audience.
Tomasz « Tomik » Grewiński, co-founder of Kayax Records alongside Kayah, became the sole owner after purchasing her stake in 2025. As the owner and Managing Director of Kayax Management, Grewiński is poised to lead the management side of the business independently. He reflected on the two-decade journey of building Kayax Records into a vital part of Polish music history and expressed confidence that Universal Music Poland would provide a solid foundation for the catalog’s future growth.
With the completion of the transaction, Kayax Records will maintain its unique identity as the fourth label under Universal Music Poland. Paweł Tetłak will assume the role of Head of Kayax Records, while Jakub Barzak will oversee both Kayax Records and Polydor Recordings Poland. The structure indicates a strategic alignment with Universal while still allowing Kayax to preserve its brand and legacy.
In its announcement, Kayax indicated a shift away from operating as a traditional record label, transitioning to a distribution and licensing model. This new approach highlights the importance of management and distribution in their business strategy moving forward.
This acquisition is part of a broader trend within Universal Music Group (UMG), which has been active in expanding its portfolio in Europe. Earlier in 2025, UMG completed a $775 million acquisition of Downtown Music Holdings, following previous acquisitions in the region, including the Netherlands-based music company 8Ball and the full buyout of Belgium-founded [PIAS]. Universal Music Poland operates within the Central European division of UMG, led by Frank Briegmann as Chairman and CEO.
Kutak’s appointment as CEO of Universal Music Poland in late 2021 positioned him to oversee operations across multiple Central and Eastern European markets, including Greece, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, and Hungary. UMG has focused on acquiring businesses in high-potential growth markets, identifying geographic expansion as a key pillar for future growth.
The Polish recorded music market has shown significant growth, with revenues increasing by 22.3% year-over-year in 2024, according to the IFPI’s Music in the EU report. Poland ranks among the fastest-growing recorded music markets in the EU, trailing only Romania and Hungary. The report also highlighted that domestic artists frequently dominate national year-end charts, capturing over half of the top spots across the EU.
Overall, the acquisition of Kayax Records by Universal Music Poland represents a strategic move to enhance their catalog and strengthen their position in the rapidly growing Polish music market. The collaboration between Universal and Kayax Management is expected to foster new opportunities for artists and contribute to the continued evolution of the Polish music scene.
