It’s been a giant a part of Hipgnosis’ id ever because the progressive music rights firm burst onto the scene in 2018: a black-and-white elephantine model designed by the legendary Storm Thorgerson.
Nonetheless, MBW understands that the brand – and the Hipgnosis identify itself – will quickly be consigned to historical past, as administration plans a whole change within the agency’s id.
We’re advised the goal is to replicate the Hipgnosis enterprise’s new construction following the take-private of the listed Hipgnosis Songs Fund.
As common MBW readers will know, Blackstone, which was already the bulk proprietor of Hipgnosis Tune Administration, acquired Hipgnosis Songs Fund from HSF’s public shareholders in July in a transaction price USD $1.584 billion.
Since then, HSF’s 40,000 songs have been mixed with the privately held Hipgnosis Songs Capital (aka Hipgnosis Songs Belongings) – house to copyrights related to Leonard Cohen, Justin Timberlake, Justin Bieber, Nelly Furtado, and Kenny Chesney – together with the funding adviser, Hipgnosis Tune Administration.
Previously three distinct entities, they’re now run as a single operation underneath the management of Ben Katovsky. Hipgnosis founder Merck Mercuriadis stepped down from the enterprise in July.
(The 2 now-combined Hipgnosis copyright portfolios, in accordance with a current firm announcement, are price greater than USD $3 billion, comprising lots of “essentially the most profitable and culturally necessary songs of all time.”)
“A change is required because the group now operates as an built-in enterprise quite than a administration firm advising two funds.”
Hipgnosis supply
MBW understands that Hipgnosis plans to replicate the unification of the administration firm and Hipgnosis’ two previously separate portfolios (Hipgnosis Songs Fund and Hipgnosis Songs Belongings) underneath a single, new identify.
Inner discussions on the matter are effectively underway, we’re advised, with an announcement on a brand new identify anticipated across the flip of the yr.
A supply advised MBW relating to the deliberate identify and branding change: “A change is required because the group now operates as an built-in enterprise quite than a administration firm advising two funds.
“The present names now not precisely displays the construction of the enterprise.”
As reported by MBW in August, Hipgnosis is known to have held talks with all three main music firms – plus their largest rivals – over a possible multi-territory publishing administration partnership for the London-headquartered agency’s reverted catalogs.
Discussions are at an early stage and Hipgnosis remains to be contemplating what a brand new setup may seem like or whether or not to proceed with its present preparations (at the very least in the interim), say sources.
In different Hipgnosis information, MBW understands that, though music’s M&A market stays gradual (vs. the heydey of 2018-2022), when alternatives come up, the corporate is able to purchase each new catalogs… and doubtlessly entire copyright portfolios.
“Hipgnosis is known to have just lately held talks with all three main music firms – plus their largest rivals – over a possible multi-territory publishing administration partnership for the agency’s reverted catalogs.”
One supply advised MBW: “Not everybody within the [music copyright M&A] house has the aptitude or long-term ambition of Hipgnosis.
“Within the coming years there are going to be alternatives [to buy] and the work Hipgnosis has performed to its platform during the last two years means it will likely be prepared and in a position to take benefit.”
As reported by MBW final month, the corporate still-currently-known as Hipgnosis Tune Administration has been on a hiring drive of late.
Final week the corporate introduced it had promoted London-based Sara Lord to Chief Artistic Officer.
Ben Katovsky mentioned of Lord: “Sara has an impressive monitor file and unimaginable information of the artistic industries. Hipgnosis owns lots of the world’s most iconic songs and, as we search to deliver them to even wider audiences, constructing partnerships throughout these artistic industries is a key a part of our technique.
“Sara is uniquely certified to construct these partnerships, whereas working intently with our songwriters and artists.”Music Enterprise Worldwide
