Thursday, January 23, 2020
Hipgnosis Songs Fund Limited and its investment advisor,
The Family (Music) Limited, have acquired a music catalog from three-time
Ivor Novello Award-winning British songwriter and producer
Brian Higgins. Over the last 25 years, Higgins has produced and co-written over 35 top 10 hits, including for globally successful artists
Cher,
Kylie Minogue,
Girls Aloud and
The Sugababes.
Higgins was named UK producer of the year in 2009, and has also written or produced hits performed by
Pet Shop Boys,
Dannii Minogue,
The Saturdays,
Sophie Ellis-Bextor,
Bananarama and more. Hipgnosis has acquired 100% of Higgins’ worldwide copyright, ownership and financial interest, including the writer's share, of his catalogue of 362 songs.
Higgins was represented by manager
Mark Beaven at
AAM and lawyer
Michael Guido at
Carroll Guido Groffman Cohen Bar & Karalian, LLP.
Said
Merck Mercuriadis, “I’m delighted to welcome Brian Higgins to the Hipgnosis family. He is one of the finest writers of the last 25 years, and "Believe" in particular is an evergreen song that has gained iconic status.”
Higgins added: “I started
Xenomania in 1996, and to see it in 2020 as a standalone independent record label and publishing company is something that gives me deep pride and great joy. I’m very grateful to Merck and Hipgnosis for the opportunity they have presented me to guarantee the label's presence in the worldwide music landscape for decades to come.”