Name: BarryNet Message Board
Date/Time: 8/3/2020 10:37 PM
Subject: Hipgnosis Songs Buys Barry Manilow Catalog

"Hipgnosis Songs Buys Barry Manilow Catalog" by Lars Brandle
Billboard, 03 August 2020

In a statement issued Monday (Aug. 3) to the London Stock Exchange, Hipgnosis said it has acquired 100% of Manilow's worldwide recording royalties (excluding Sound Exchange royalties) in his catalog, comprising 917 songs. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Manilow's biggest hits are included in the deal, including the Billboard Hot 100 leaders “Mandy,” “I Write the Songs" and "Looks Like We Made It," as well as such other big hits as "Can't Smile Without You,” “Copacabana (At the Copa)." "Barry Manilow is an international treasure. He's an incomparable artist, songwriter, arranger, musician and performer,” comments Mercuriadis, founder of Hipgnosis Songs Fund Limited and The Family (Music) Limited.

Manilow was represented by longtime manager Garry Kief and lawyer Doug Davis at The Davis Firm. "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," says the veteran singer.

Kief adds, "I've known Merck for most of my 40 year career and have always respected him. At last I finally get to work with him."

Manilow’s long list of accolades includes induction into the Songwriters Hall of Fame, the BMI Icon Award, Society of Singers' Lifetime Achievement Award, a Grammy Award, two Emmy Awards and a special Tony Award.

Manilow has been back in the news, and the charts. In June 2020, his ‘80s recording "When the Good Times Come Again" worked its way up Billboard’s Adult Contemporary chart, making Manilow the first artist to span reaching the top 20 of the chart from the '70s to the '20s. It was his 36th top 20 hit on the chart...