Summary List PlacementFormer record label executive Steve Stoute has known the top brass at Apple for years. Still, he didn't expect to take in money for his startup from the "ultimate strategic" investor in his latest fundraise, Stoute tells Insider. UnitedMasters, a startup that helps independent artists get their music to fans, said this week it closed $50 million at a $350 million valuation. The funding round was led by Apple, meaning the tech Goliath wrote the biggest check. Google parent company Alphabet and Andreessen Horowitz, both existing investors, also participated in the round.