Tough to justify private jet transportation in the music industry these days, though some high-flying action is still happening on the fringes.  The latest comes from KKR, a recent entrant into the music publishing business.

According to documents surfacing over the weekend, Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. dropped $7.9 million on private jet jaunts in 2008.  Of that, $6 million was actually funneled back towards the principals of the private equity group.

Digging a bit deeper, the details get interesting.  Turns out that Kohlberg founders Henry Kravis and George Roberts are actually owners of the aircraft in question, and they paid for the wings with their own money.  “They paid for the purchase of these aircraft with their personal funds and bear all operating, personnel and maintenance costs associated with their operation,” the disclosure states.

The private equity firm pays for hourly usage, using market rates.  The documents were published as part of a broader level of disclosure leading up to possible IPOs across both European and US exchanges.  The private equity firm minted a publishing joint venture with Bertelsmann earlier this month.

Story by Alexandra Osorio.