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Name: BarryNet Message Board Date/Time: 8/3/2020 10:37 PM Subject: Barry Manilow Sells Song Catalog to Hipgnosis
Variety, 03 August 2020 Veteran manager and recording executive Merck Mercuriadis’ Hipgnosis Songs Fund Ltd. is adding the Barry Manilow catalog to its $1 billion-plus portfolio. Manilow, a Grammy, Tony and Emmy winner, is among the most successful recording artists of the 1970s and 1980s with 50 Top 40 singles to his name. Manilow’s career has continued to flourish in the decades since as a live performer. Hipgnosis Song Fund already controls approximately 12,000 songs, ranging from Rihanna’s “Umbrellas” to Al Green’s “Let’s Stay Together” and the Eurythmics’ “Sweet Dreams,” representing $1 billion in acquisitions after its July 2018 IPO on the London Stock Exchange successfully raised $265 million. Mercuriadis boasted of having made “60 deals in the past 21 months” in April, acquiring song publishing catalogs by the likes of Tricky Stewart, Richie Sambora, Benny Blanco, Mark Ronson, Starrah, Poo Bear, Rodney Jerkins and others. Said Mercuriadis in announcing the acquisition: “Barry Manilow is an International treasure. He’s an incomparable artist, songwriter, arranger, musician and performer. In the 1970s and 80s he redefined mainstream entertainment and drove it to new heights of success with truly classic songs. From ‘Mandy’ to ‘I Write The Songs’, ‘Copacabana’ and ‘Looks Like We Made It’ he is one of those rare artists that unites everyone. We are honored to have Barry and Garry join the Hipgnosis Family.” “Merck has created a new type of music company and I’m looking forward to being part of the family at The Family Music and Hipgnosis Songs,” added Manilow ... Manilow was represented in the deal by manager Garry Kief and attorney Doug Davis at The Davis Firm. 
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