Justin Bieber and Scooter Braun. Photo Credit: Lou Stejskal
Hipgnosis Song Management (HSM) has officially acquired Justin Bieber’s catalog, including the 28-year-old’s publishing and recorded interests.
Blackstone-powered Hipgnosis Song Management reached out to Digital Music News with word of the high-profile transaction this morning. The deal’s formal announcement arrives a little over one month after reports suggested that HSM and Bieber were closing in on a $200 million agreement. However, the involved parties haven’t publicly confirmed the transaction’s value.
In any event, the far-reaching buyout encompasses a “100% interest” in London, Ontario-born Bieber’s publishing (“including the writer’s share of performance”), on top of the artist’s masters and neighboring rights for his more than 290-work back catalog. The latter specifically includes the two-time Grammy winner’s projects that released before December 31st, 2021.
Execs also emphasized that the deal, reportedly HSM’s largest to date, had been executed specifically via Hipgnosis Songs Capital, or “a partnership between Hipgnosis Song Management and funds managed by Blackstone.” Moreover, both HSM and HSC operate separately from the publicly traded Hipgnosis Songs Fund, shares in which dipped slightly during today’s trading hours to finish at £0.85 apiece.
Much of Hipgnosis’ formal release touts the commercial success of Bieber, who has a staggering 70.21 million monthly listeners on Spotify and has dropped much-streamed tracks including “Love Yourself” (1.97 billion Spotify plays) and, with The Kid Laroi, “Stay” (2.35 billion Spotify plays).
Addressing his company’s latest investment in a statement, Hipgnosis head Merck Mercuriadis highlighted Bieber’s cultural relevance on the world stage as well as the “power of this incredible catalogue.”
“The impact of Justin Bieber on global culture over the last 14 years has truly been remarkable,” said Schefferville, Quebec-born Mercuriadis. “At only 28 years of age, he is one of a handful of defining artists of the streaming era that has revitalized the entire music industry, taking a loyal and worldwide audience with him on a journey from teen phenomenon to culturally important artist.
“This acquisition ranks among the biggest deals ever made for an artist under the age of 70, such is the power of this incredible catalogue that has almost 82 million monthly listeners and over 30 billion streams on Spotify alone. Scooter Braun has helped him build a magnificent catalogue, and it’s a pleasure to welcome Justin and his incredible songs and recordings to the Hipgnosis family,” concluded the veteran music manager.
Meanwhile, Scooter Braun himself – billed in the announcement message as “CEO of Hybe America and Justin Bieber’s manager of 15 years” – acknowledged that he, Bieber, and his team had “quickly” identified Mercuriadis and Hipgnosis as “the best partner to preserve and grow this amazing legacy.”
“For over a decade now Justin Bieber has entertained us and moved us with some of the biggest songs in the world,” Braun said in part. “I’m so proud of him and all those involved over the years in helping amass this incredible body of work. Justin is truly a once in a generation artist and that is reflected and acknowledged by the magnitude of this deal. For 15 years I have been grateful to witness this journey and today I am happy for all those involved. Justin’s greatness is just beginning.”
Today’s deal for the music IP of Justin Bieber represents one of several recent catalog plays. To this point in 2023, the likes of Primary Wave, Ultra, Seeker Music (which is said to be zeroing in on pacts with “modern-day songwriters”), UMG/Shamrock, and Creedence Clearwater Revival founder John Fogerty have invested in song rights.