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REG - Hipgnosis Songs Fund - Acquisition of Music Catalogue





 




RNS Number : 4159V
Hipgnosis Songs Fund Limited
03 December 2019
 

3 December 2019

Hipgnosis Songs Fund Limited ("Hipgnosis" or the "Company")

Acquisition of Music Catalogue

The Board of Hipgnosis Songs Fund Limited and its Investment Adviser, The Family (Music) Limited, are pleased to announce that the Company has acquired a music catalogue from British songwriter and producer, Fraser T. Smith who has co-written, mixed and produced seven UK Number 1 and two US Number 1 singles, as well as contributing to 17 Number 1 albums.

Fraser T. Smith co-wrote and produced 'Set Fire to the Rain' from Adele's 2011 album '21' which was crowned by Billboard 200 Albums as the "Greatest of All Time" and is the best selling album of the 21st century. In addition to winning the Grammy Award for "Best Solo Pop Performance", 'Set Fire to the Rain' achieved 13 Number 1s and 35 Top 10s globally including in the US and UK and was certified 4x Platinum in the US and 2x Platinum in the UK and has been streamed over 480 million times on Spotify alone. Fraser T. Smith was also co-writer and co-executive producer on Stormzy's seminal UK Number 1 album 'Gang Signs & Prayer', which was "British Album of the Year" at the 2018 Brit awards and became the first grime album in history to reach UK Number one as well as achieving six Top 10 chart positions globally, including co-writing and producing the seminal Platinum certified single 'Blinded by Your Grace, Pt. 2'.

Fraser T. Smith is also responsible for 'Break your Heart' by Taio Cruz, co-written and produced by Fraser T. Smith, which reached Number 1 in 4 countries including the UK and the US where it was certified 3x Platinum (167 million Spotify streams); 'Broken Strings' by James Morrison featuring Nelly Furtado which achieved four Number 1 chart positions globally (165 million Spotify streams); and 'Number 1' by Tinchy Stryder featuring N-Dubz which was Number 1 and certified Platinum in the UK (31 million Spotify streams). He also co-wrote and produced on Jesse & Joy's album 'Un Besito Más' which was nominated as 'Album Of The Year' in 2015 at the Latin Grammy's and won for 'Best Contemporary Pop Vocal Album' and 'Best Latin Pop Album'.

The Catalogue also includes his collaborations with Kano, where he was a co-writer and producer on his 2016 MOBO Award winning album 'Made In The Manor'; Sam Smith, on his 9x Platinum and Grammy nominated Number 1 album 'In The Lonely Hour'. Fraser T. Smith has also co-written and produced for Dave, Plan B, Cee Lo Green and Craig David.

Hipgnosis has acquired 100% of Fraser T. Smith's worldwide writer share of performance income of his Catalogue which comprises of 298 songs.

Merck Mercuriadis, Founder of The Family (Music) Limited and Hipgnosis Songs Fund Limited, said:

"It's an honour to welcome Fraser T. Smith and Sarah T. Smith to the Hipgnosis family. Every time I hear one of Fraser's songs they always feel special. He writes and produces enormously successful songs that make popular music not only special but culturally important."

Fraser T. Smith said:

"Merck's pedigree as a music industry executive, manager and visionary is almost unprecedented - and above all, he truly realises the value of the song in popular culture. I'm excited to be part of the Hipgnosis family, and know that this part of my songwriting catalogue is in very safe hands."

For further information, please contact:

The Family (Music) Limited

Merck Mercuriadis

 

Tel: +44 (0)1481 742742

N+1 Singer - Joint Corporate Broker

James Maxwell / James Moat (Corporate Finance)

Alan Geeves / James Waterlow / Sam Greatrex (Sales)

 

Tel: +44 (0)20 7496 3000

J.P. Morgan Cazenove - Joint Corporate Broker

William Simmonds / Ed Murray / Jérémie Birnbaum (Corporate Finance)

James Bouverat / Eddie Nissen (Sales)

 

Tel: +44 (0)20 7742 4000

The Outside Organisation

Alan Edwards / Nick Caley

Tel: +44 (0)7711 081 843

 

NOTES TO EDITORS

About Hipgnosis Songs Fund Limited

(www.hipgnosissongs.com)

Hipgnosis, which was founded by Merck Mercuriadis, is a Guernsey registered investment company established to offer investors a pure-play exposure to songs and associated musical intellectual property rights. The Company has raised a total of over £625 million (gross equity capital) through its Initial Public Offering on 11 July 2018, and subsequent issues in April 2019, August 2019 and October 2019. In September 2019, Hipgnosis transferred its entire issued share capital to the Premium listing segment of the Official List of the FCA and to the London Stock Exchange's Premium segment of the Main Market.

About The Family (Music) Limited

The Company's Investment Adviser is The Family (Music) Limited, which was founded by Merck Mercuriadis, former manager of globally successful recording artists, such as Elton John, Guns N' Roses, Morrissey, Iron Maiden and Beyoncé, and hit songwriters such as Diane Warren, Justin Tranter and The-Dream, and former CEO of The Sanctuary Group plc. The Investment Adviser has assembled an Advisory Board of highly successful music industry experts which include award winning members of the artist, songwriter, publishing, legal, financial, recorded music and music management communities, all with in-depth knowledge of music publishing. Members of The Family (Music) Limited Advisory Board include Nile Rodgers, The-Dream, Giorgio Tuinfort, Starrah, Nick Jarjour, David Stewart, Bill Leibowitz, Ian Montone, and Jason Flom.


This information is provided by RNS, the news service of the London Stock Exchange. RNS is approved by the Financial Conduct Authority to act as a Primary Information Provider in the United Kingdom. Terms and conditions relating to the use and distribution of this information may apply. For further information, please contact rns@lseg.com or visit www.rns.com.
 
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