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Hipgnosis Founder Talks New Venture, Eyes Buying Back Catalog From Blackstone
Hipgnosis founder Merck Mercuriadis plans a new venture and want to "buy the catalogue back."
The former manager of star acts like Beyoncé, Guns N’ Roses and Elton John, Mercuriadis built a suite of Hipgnosis companies–two catalog acquisition funds, and an investment manager that worked to generate a return on publishing and other rights it owned to songs by the likes of Shakira, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Fleetwood Mac and Diana Ross. Amid tumult at the branch of Hipgnosis that was publicly listed on the London Stock Exchange, private equity giant and Hipgnosis-backer Blackstone bought and consolidated those companies, renaming them Recognition Music, with Mercuriadis ultimately leaving the group in 2024. During Hipgnosis’ heyday, Mercuriadis made bold pledges to be artists’ and songwriters’ advocate making them “the most money possible while compromising the least.” The new Hipgnosis that he plans to launch will continue that mission by creating a platform providing services to superstar artists who are their own brands and buying some catalogs, too, the music industry veteran told the FT in an article published July 6.
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