Sony Music Publishing Acquires Hipgnosis Songs Group

Sony Music Publishing has bought Hipgnosis Songs Group LLC from Blackstone’s Recognition Music Group.

Some context:

• Hipgnosis Songs Fund acquired Big Deal Music in 2020.

• The transaction included 4,400 copyrights, including music by One Direction, Panic! At the Disco, Shawn Mendes and more.

• It also included Big Deal’s US publishing admin business, Words & Music.

• In July 2024, private equity company Blackstone acquired Hipgnosis Songs Fund’s assets from its public shareholders, reportedly for $1.584 billion, as per Music Business Worldwide.

• As per Digital Music News, in March this year Hipgnosis was rebranded to Recognition Music Group, “consolidating several Hipgnosis entities under the new Recognition banner.”

• Sony Music Publishing has acquired the Hipgnosis Songs Group Division, bringing under its control the copyrights originally held by Big Deal Music (One Direction, Panic! At the Disco etc).

• It will now administer these works and serve as publisher for HSG’s roster of songwriters.

The fine print:

• Recognition Music Group continues to own and manage more than 45,000 songs and recordings from over 145 catalogs, including songs by Red Hot Chili Peppers, Fleetwood Mac, Neil Young, Eurythmics, Justin Bieber, Shakira and Journey.

• These assets are not part of the Sony deal.

• As per Digital Music News, Blackstone remains the majority owner of the broader Hipgnosis/Recognition portfolio.

• While Sony is acquiring Hipgnosis Songs Group, “the bulk of Hipgnosis’ legendary catalogs – including those managed by Recognition – are still under Blackstone control.”