BMG Acquires Remaining Interests in ARC Music, Hal David, and John Lee Hooker Publishing Catalogs

BMG has acquired the remaining interests in the songwriting works of the publishing catalogs of Hal David, John Lee Hooker, and ARC Music.

Why it matters:

• The catalogs contain some of music’s most influential and acclaimed works.

The details:

• The deal completes a transaction first announced in 2016, when BMG acquired a majority stake in the ARC Music catalog from Fuji Music Group.

• The transaction includes the remaining interest in the publishing catalog of GRAMMY and Academy Award-winning lyricist Hal David, whose body of work includes “Raindrops Keep Fallin’ On My Head,” “I’ll Never Fall In Love Again,” “What’s New Pussycat?” and many others.

• It also brings the entire publishing catalog of legendary bluesman John Lee Hooker fully under BMG, following a 2022 deal in which it co-acquired the rights with Fuji Music Group from Hooker’s estate.

• Hooker’s catalog includes “Boom Boom,” “One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer,” and many more.

• In addition, BMG has acquired the music publishing counterpart to Chess Records, ARC Music.

• One of the most important catalogs in the history of blues, rock’n’roll and American popular music, its repertoire includes songs made famous by Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley, Howlin’ Wolf, John Lee Hooker, Muddy Waters, Etta James, and many others.

What they said:

• Monti Olson, BMG EVP, Head of Publishing, North America: “The musical catalogs of Hal David, John Lee Hooker, and ARC Music are cornerstones of modern music. Their timeless melodies and lyrics continue to resonate across generations and in pop culture around the world. Completing our ownership of these catalogs further strengthens BMG’s position as a home for some of the most significant works in American music history, ensuring these songs continue to be protected and introduced to new audiences for generations to come.”