London-based, Merck Mercuriadis-led Hipgnosis Songs Fund has acquired a music catalog from triple Ivor Novello award winning British songwriter and producer, Brian Higgins.
Over the last 25 years Brian Higgins has produced and co-written in excess of 35 top 10 hits including for the likes of Cher, Kylie Minogue, Girls Aloud and The Sugababes.
Hipgnosis has acquired 100% of Brian Higgins’ worldwide copyright, ownership and financial interest, including the writer share, of his catalog comprising 362 songs.
Over the past three weeks, Hipgnosis confirmed the acquisition of a music catalog from hit producer Emile Haynie, in addition to acquiring a music catalog from Blink-182 co-founder Tom DeLonge.
The company also confirmed the acquisition of a music catalog from hit songwriter Ammar Malik.
In 1998, Higgins co-wrote Cher’s Grammy winning hit Believe, which reached No.1 in 21 countries, selling over 11 million copies worldwide and being certified 4x platinum in the US.
The song topped the UK Singles chart for seven weeks.
Higgins received recognition for his work on the song winning three Ivor Novello awards in 1999; Best Song Musically and Lyrically, Best Selling British Single and International Hit of the Year.
Believe has had over 1 billion plays on global streaming services.
Brian Higgins has collaborated closely with Girls Aloud, who have sold over 4.3m singles sales and 4m albums sold in the UK alone.
This includes co-writing and producing most of their five studio albums, all of which achieved either platinum or double platinum status in the UK.
Brian Higgins also co-wrote or produced their No.1 hits Sound Of The Underground, I’ll Stand By You and The Promise.
In 2008, Brian Higgins co-wrote and produced Gabrielle Cilmi’s Sweet About Me, which reached No.1 in three countries and was named the most played song in the UK during 2009 by PRS for Music.
Brian Higgins was named UK producer of the year in 2009 and has also written or produced hits performed by Pet Shop Boys, Dannii Minogue, The Saturdays, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Bananarama, Alesha Dixon, Texas, Rachel Stevens, Saint Etienne, Gossip and Florrie.
Brian Higgins was represented by manager Mark Beaven at AAM and lawyer Michael Guido at Carroll Guido Groffman Cohen Bar & Karalian, LLP.
“He is one of the finest writers of the last 25 years and Believe in particular is an evergreen song that has gained iconic status.”
Merck Mercuriadis
Merck Mercuriadis, Founder of The Family (Music) Limited and Hipgnosis Songs Fund Limited, said:
“I’m delighted to welcome Brian Higgins to the Hipgnosis family.
“He is one of the finest writers of the last 25 years and Believe in particular is an evergreen song that has gained iconic status.”
“I’m very grateful to Merck and Hipgnosis for the opportunity they have presented me to guarantee the labels presence in the worldwide music landscape for decades to come.”
Brian Higgins
Brian Higgins added: “I started Xenomania in 1996 and to see it in 2020 as a standalone independent record label and publishing company is something that gives me deep pride and great joy.
“I’m very grateful to Merck and Hipgnosis for the opportunity they have presented me to guarantee the labels presence in the worldwide music landscape for decades to come.”Music Business Worldwide
