Round Hill Music has acquired a catalog of master recordings from Swedish independent label Telegram Studios.
The portfolio of masters features a mix of recordings, from mainstream pop hits, to rock, reggae, alternative, metal, and hardcore.
The artists represented in the deal include Estelle (American Boy), Caesars (Jerk It Out), Serj Tankian of System of A Down, Jamelia, Coal Chamber, Sick of it All, Ziggy Marley And The Melody Makers, Soul Coughing, Throwing Muses, The Ark, Stina Nordenstam, The Sounds, Surfer Blood and more.
Josh Gruss, Founder and CEO of Round Hill Music, said: “It’s been a thrill work with Niklas, Bjorn and Klas to acquire this set of master recordings. It is real rarity to come across such a rich collection of masters that is independently owned.”
Added Gruss: “Telegram has done an amazing job working with the artists and recordings in this catalog. We respect the work that they have done very much.
“We are lucky to be the next owners and our goal is to deliver the same high quality of service to this group of very important artists.”
“It is real rarity to come across such a rich collection of masters that is independently owned.”
Josh Gruss, Round Hill Music
Joe Calitri, President of Round Hill Records, said: “Round Hill Records is excited and honored to work with such an accomplished and diverse mix of artists across multiple genres through this arrangement.
“The addition of these recordings will further bolster our exceptional catalogue offering and the team is ready to continue the great work that Telegram has done thus far.”
“The addition of these recordings will further bolster our exceptional catalogue offering.”
Joe Calitri, Round Hill Records
Niklas Lundell CEO and Co-Founder Telegram Studios, said: “We are very excited to have completed this deal with Round Hill Records.
“Thanks to Josh & his team at Round Hill for making this happen. I consider him both a passionate music lover and a friend. During the past six years we have slowly and steadily built a catalog of great master recordings. Together with the artists we have successfully increased revenues and built value.
“Now the timing is perfect for the next chapter, we are very confident that Round Hill Records will continue to grow this amazing catalog to new highs and for us to take on new ventures and possibilities. We want to extend a huge thank you to all amazing artists and to our business partners.
“we are very confident that Round Hill Records will continue to grow this amazing catalog.”
Niklas Lundell, Telegram Studios
2021 has been a busy (and expensive) year for New York-founded Round Hill so far.
In March, Round Hill inked a global agreement with country music songwriter and producer Zach Crowell, which included the acquisition and administration of his music publishing back catalog, neighbouring rights (via Sound Hill, Round Hill’s neighbouring rights division) and producer royalties.
In February, Robert Del Naja and Grant Marshall, founding members of the Bristol-formed band Massive Attack, sold the catalog to their first five albums released between 1991 and 2010.
As MBW reported at the time, this followed further acquisitions made by a UK-listed, Round Hill-managed fund in February, which acquired over 18,000 songs from another, US-listed Round Hill-managed fund for a price of $282m.
This included 446 compositions in the GIL/GPS catalog, comprised of Beatles classics such as She Loves You, I Saw Here Standing There and more, as well as songs recorded by The Rolling Stones, Otis Redding, John Lee Hooker, Pat Boone, and Ricky Nelson.
In March, MBW reported that in Q4 2020, Round Hill Music equalled its best-ever market share performance for radio hits in the US.
