Universal Music Poland has acquired the recorded catalog and brand of Warsaw label Kayax Records, home to recordings by Brodka, Nosowska and Zakopower, announced on August 21, 2026. Neither party disclosed the value of the deal.
What changes hands
Universal takes the global recording rights to the Kayax Records catalog, around 130 albums, as well as the Kayax Records brand itself. The label was founded in 2001 by Tomasz Grewiński and the singer Kayah, and Grewiński became its sole owner in April 2025. Kayax Management, the artist management business, stays independent and was not included, although it has entered a strategic partnership with Universal.
Kayax will keep its identity and operate as Universal Music Poland's fourth label. Paweł Tetłak becomes Head of Kayax Records, and Jakub Barzak will oversee both Kayax and Polydor Recordings Poland.
The catalog
- Clashes (Brodka): a key album in the label's catalog.
- Złoto (Krzysztof Zalewski): one of the headline releases.
- Boso (Zakopower): a well-known title from the roster.
- Maria Aweria (Maria Peszek): another highlight of the catalog.
- Further recordings by Nosowska, Hey, Artur Rojek, Natalia Przybysz, Smolik, Mery Spolsky and The Dumplings.
Why it matters
Major labels are buying strong independent catalogs in local markets and keeping the brands alive rather than folding them in. Universal's parent has been especially active: it closed the $775 million acquisition of Downtown Music Holdings in February 2026, bought 8Ball in the Netherlands in 2025, and completed its full buyout of [PIAS] in 2024.
For independent label owners, this deal shows that local-language repertoire with deep domestic recognition is a real asset for majors. It also shows a useful structure: the catalog and brand were sold, while the management company stayed independent and gained a partnership. Separating which parts of a business are for sale can protect ongoing operations while still unlocking catalog value.