Merck Mercuriadis‘s Hipgnosis Songs Fund Limited has acquired a music catalog from American record producer, songwriter, music publisher and multiple Grammy winner Christopher “Tricky” Stewart.
The company has acquired a 100% interest in the catalog including ASCAP (American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers) income.
The catalog comprises 121 songs in total, including eight US Top 10 Pop singles, three US No.1 Pop singles and multiple Grammy winners.
Hipgnosis has made several high-profile acquisitions this year, including interest in catalogs from Chic co-founder Bernard Edwards, songwriter Jason Boyd, AKA Poo Bear and most recently, from British songwriting and music production team TMS.
The company’s latest purchase also follows the acquisition in July of the The-Dream catalog, which includes a number of songs written by Tricky Stewart including Umbrella (Rihanna), Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It) (Beyoncé), Baby (Justin Bieber), Me Against The Music (Britney Spears & Madonna) and Touch My Body (Mariah Carey).
In addition to songs co-written with The-Dream, the catalog includes numerous other songs with Katy Perry from her album Teenage Dream and other songs with Christina Aguilera, Rick Ross, Whitney Houston, Jennifer Lopez, Nicole Scherzinger and Ciara.
Tricky is a tremendous individual, writer, producer and musician whose work backs up all of the tremendous accolades and success.
Merck Mercuriadis, Hipgnosis Songs Fund (pictured)
Merck Mercuriadis, Founder of The Family (Music) Limited and Hipgnosis Songs Fund Limited, said: “This is a tremendously important acquisition for Hipgnosis and me. In addition to giving us greater ownership of multiple Grammy Award winning No.1 songs like Rihanna’s Umbrella and Beyoncé’s Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It) we are also reuniting the catalogs of Tricky Stewart and The-Dream who are arguably the finest song-writing duo of their time.
“These songs are big pop successes but it’s sophisticated music of the highest order and these songs are already classics not to mention by the culturally most important artists of their time. Tricky is a tremendous individual, writer, producer and musician whose work backs up all of the tremendous accolades and success. This is family!”
“Selling to a friend who is fuelled by purpose, motivated to do great things, with a disruptive spirit and vigour caught my attention, and ultimately led to me completing this transaction.”
Tricky Stewart
Tricky Stewart said: “There is a right way and wrong way to do everything. The sale of my catalog to Hipgnosis is right for me. Selling to a friend who is fuelled by purpose, motivated to do great things, with a disruptive spirit and vigour caught my attention, and ultimately led to me completing this transaction.
“I’m truly blessed to have these kinds of options in my life and for that we give God the glory.
“Over the next five years I will be creating another catalog filled with hits and culture, and I’ll do it all over again! I love music and music loves me.”
“Closing a major transaction like this with a man like Merck made perfect sense because of our long lasting working relationship.”
Mark E. Stewart, Tricky Stewart’s Manager
Mark E. Stewart, Tricky Stewart’s Manager, added: “When Trick and I discussed selling his catalog, Merck was the first person I heard from.
“Merck and Hipgnosis are definitely buyers that have respect for the songs and for the writers who created them, and even the stories behind the creations. Merck is a music man first,but happens to make deals with the utmost respect for the creator.
“Closing a major transaction like this with a man like Merck made perfect sense because of our long lasting working relationship. I congratulate him and Hipgnosis on another great acquisition.”Music Business Worldwide
