Bieber, Shakira Royalties Back New $372M Bond Sale
Recognition Music Group (formerly Hipgnosis) will use proceeds to repay debts and fund reserves
Recognition Music Group is selling $372 million in bonds backed by royalties from its multi-billion dollar catalog, which includes recorded music and/or publishing rights from Red Hot Chili Peppers, Shakira and Justin Bieber to name a few.
The fine print:
The proceeds will be utilized to repay debts and fund reserves.
As per Digital Music News, the deal is part of Recognition’s “broader strategy” of digging into the asset-backed securities (ABS) market fueled by music royalties.
The publication states, “The transaction is structured as a music royalty ABS, with the bonds collateralized by royalties from a catalog valued at just shy of $3 billion.”
That catalog contains over 47,000 recordings and compositions.
The news follows the announcement earlier this week of a $1.8 billion ABS by Concord.
Backstory:
Recognition Music Group was previously known as Hipgnosis, which was founded in 2018 by Merck Mercuriadis.
It was acquired by Blackstone in 2024 and rebranded.
Recognition Music Group is selling $372 million in bonds backed by royalties from its multi-billion dollar catalog, which includes recorded music and/or publishing rights from Red Hot Chili Peppers, Shakira and Justin Bieber to name a few.
The fine print:
The proceeds will be utilized to repay debts and fund reserves.
As per Digital Music News, the deal is part of Recognition’s “broader strategy” of digging into the asset-backed securities (ABS) market fueled by music royalties.
The publication states, “The transaction is structured as a music royalty ABS, with the bonds collateralized by royalties from a catalog valued at just shy of $3 billion.”
That catalog contains over 47,000 recordings and compositions.
The news follows the announcement earlier this week of a $1.8 billion ABS by Concord.
Backstory:
Recognition Music Group was previously known as Hipgnosis, which was founded in 2018 by Merck Mercuriadis.
It was acquired by Blackstone in 2024 and rebranded.
Recognition Music Group is selling $372 million in bonds backed by royalties from its multi-billion dollar catalog, which includes recorded music and/or publishing rights from Red Hot Chili Peppers, Shakira and Justin Bieber to name a few.
The fine print:
The proceeds will be utilized to repay debts and fund reserves.
As per Digital Music News, the deal is part of Recognition’s “broader strategy” of digging into the asset-backed securities (ABS) market fueled by music royalties.
The publication states, “The transaction is structured as a music royalty ABS, with the bonds collateralized by royalties from a catalog valued at just shy of $3 billion.”
That catalog contains over 47,000 recordings and compositions.
The news follows the announcement earlier this week of a $1.8 billion ABS by Concord.
Backstory:
Recognition Music Group was previously known as Hipgnosis, which was founded in 2018 by Merck Mercuriadis.
It was acquired by Blackstone in 2024 and rebranded.
Recognition Music Group
Red Hot Chili Peppers
Shakira
Justin Bieber
Concord
Hipgnosis
Merck Mercuriadis
Blackstone
Digital Music News
Music Catalog Investment Boom
Securitization Of Music Rights
Artist Catalog Valuation
Private Equity Investment In Music
Music Catalog Acquisitions
Asset-Backed Securities
Catalog Sales
Mergers & Acquisitions
Music Publishing
United States
United Kingdom
👋 Disclosures & Transparency Block
- This story was written with information sourced from Digital Music News.
- We covered it because of Recognition's profile in the rights space.
📨 Subscribe to NIF
Get news dropped in your inbox 👇
📨 Subscribe to NIF
Get news dropped in your inbox 👇
Related Articles
Business & Finance
Jan 28, 2026
1 min read
Native Instruments Begins Preliminary Insolvency Proceedings
The prominent music tech brand will soon undergo major restructuring and asset sales
Business & Finance
Jan 23, 2026
1 min read
Merlin Partners with B2B Financing Solutions Provider Pipeline
The news follows Pipeline’s launch with over $200m in capital
Business & Finance
Jan 22, 2026
1 min read
Duetti Raises $200M to Expand Indie Catalog Acquisitions and Platform
Includes a $50 million Series C equity investment from The Raine Group
Native Instruments Begins Preliminary Insolvency Proceedings
The prominent music tech brand will soon undergo major restructuring and asset sales
Harry Levin
Business
Jan 28, 2026
Merlin Partners with B2B Financing Solutions Provider Pipeline
The news follows Pipeline’s launch with over $200m in capital
Rod Yates
Business
Jan 23, 2026
Duetti Raises $200M to Expand Indie Catalog Acquisitions and Platform
Includes a $50 million Series C equity investment from The Raine Group
Rod Yates
Business
Jan 22, 2026
Independent Music Financing Platform ‘Pipeline’ Launches
Seeks to become “the largest funder of independent music globally”
Rod Yates
Business
Jan 21, 2026
Tiny Vinyl Expands into Europe
Taps Ruben Planting to lead European operations
Rod Yates
Business
Jan 20, 2026
Wasserman Opens New Australian HQ in Sydney
Announces Nick Hudson as Vice President
Rod Yates
Business
Jan 19, 2026
