Merck Mercuriadis
Justin Timberlake Sells Song Catalog to Hipgnosis
Justin Timberlake is the latest artist to sell off his songs. The pop-star has sold his full catalog to Hipgnosis Song Management, the company announced Thursday (May 26). That includes Hot 100 chart-toppers “Sexyback,” “What Goes Around… Comes Around,” “My Love” and “Can’t Stop the Feeling.” Along with Timberlake’s share of ownership over his already classic song catalog, Hipgnosis now owns the multi-hyphenate talent’s entire writer and publisher’s share of public performance income (Timberlake is signed to ASCAP) and will handle worldwide administration of the compositions, subject to the remaining term of his Universal Music agreement, which expires in 2025. From Memphis, Tennessee, Timberlake has been one of the most recognizable voices in music since his time as a member of the popula...
Inside Hipgnosis Songs’ Mid-Year Report
Hipgnosis Songs Funds improved its gross revenue for the six months ended Sept. 30 by 35% year-on-year to $85.3 million, primarily due to the revenue from eight catalogs with 1,315 songs acquired in the previous six months, the company announced Thursday (Dec. 16) in its bi-annual report to investors. Net revenue—gross revenue minus royalties paid to songwriters under contract and administered catalogs—grew 31% $74.1 million during the same period. Since its launch in 2017, Hipgnosis has built a catalog of over 65,000 songs with a net asset value of $1.63 billion as of Sept. 30, up from $1.46 billion on March 31. (NAV is the acquisition costs less amortization.) An alternative measure, “operative” NAV, which adds to NAV the increase in the catalog’s fair value...
Hipgnosis Songs Poaches Publishing Vet Richard Rowe
Prior to that, Rowe co-founded R2M Music Publishing. Rowe made his mark with the Sony Music Group, in particular its music publishing division, which he helmed for 15 years as president. Today, Rowe is “one of the most important and successful executives in the music industry,” Mercuriadis acknowledges in a statement. “He helped build Sony ATV into the company it is today and played an important role in bringing Round Hill Music Royalty Fund successfully to the market in the wake of Hipgnosis.” Mercuriadis paid tribute to Rowe’s “incredible” dealmaking skills, including the partnership with Michael Jackson bringing The Beatles copyrights to Sony ATV, and the acquisition of Acuff-Rose Music which included the catalogs of Roy Orbison and The Everly Brothers. Rowe’s career started in 1979 at ...
Hipgnosis Buys L.A. Reid’s Music Catalog
“It’s a great pleasure to welcome L.A. Reid and his incredible set of songs to the Hipgnosis family.” Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. “I can’t imagine a better home for my lifetime of music and songs than Hipgnosis,” notes Reid. “Merck and his dream team truly value artists and their creative vision, and I couldn’t be more thrilled to partner with them for this exciting new chapter.” A giant of the U.S. record industry, Reid’s songwriting and production successes include Boyz II Men’s two-time Grammy winning smash “End of the Road,” plus hits with Whitney Houston, Bobby Brown and many more. Reid’s songwriting and producing credits include The Whispers’ “Rock Steady,” Sheena Easton’s “The Lover In Me,” Karyn W...
Ted Cockle, Amy Thomson Join Hipgnosis Songs
Ted Cockle, the Universal Music Group stalwart who most recently served as Virgin EMI president, has joined Merck Mercuriadis’ Hipgnosis Songs. Three months after announcing his departure from the U.K. label, Cockle is today (Aug. 8) unveiled as president of Hipgnosis Songs. Also joining the company is Amy Thomson, a management and marketing veteran who takes the role as chief catalog officer. The incoming executives will be expected to help “grow and care for songs and their legacy” within the expanding Hipgnosis Songs catalog, reads a statement announcing their arrival. “It’s a testament to the iconic song catalog that we have assembled over the last two plus years, and our songwriters, that we have been able to attract executives with the extraordinary talent, pedigree and success of Te...
Call Me: Hipgnosis Songs Buys Blondie Catalog
Merck Mercuriadis’ Hipgnosis Songs continues its spending spree with the acquisition of Blondie’s catalog. In a statement issued Wednesday morning (Aug. 5) to the London Stock Exchange, Hipgnosis and its investment adviser The Family announced a deal to buy 100% of Debbie Harry and Chris Stein’s writer’s share and neighboring rights (Sound Exchange) royalties in their Blondie catalogs, tallying 197 songs. Financial terms were not disclosed. “We are so happy to be working with a progressive company,” say Harry and Stein in a joint statement. “We are looking forward to the future with Hipgnosis’ forward thinking team.” {“nid”:”9344244″,”type”:”post”,”title”:”Debbie Harry on Spending Six Weeks at No. 1 With Blondie's '...
