Round Hill Music Royalty Fund (RHM) has acquired the remaining share of the catalog of music publishing rights of Big Loud Shirt Industries, bringing its ownership of the country music catalog up to 100%.
RHM has also acquired 50% of the writer’s income streams from Big Loud Shirt Industries’ founder and owner, country music songwriter and producer, Craig Wiseman. The company says that the investments comprise more than 1,200 country hits.
The tracks include singles performed by artists like Blake Shelton, Carrie Underwood, Dierks Bentley, Faith Hill, Luke Bryan and Tim McGraw.
Financial terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.
According to the announcement, the streaming income generated from Big Loud Shirt’s catalog grew by about 200% from 2017 to 2021.
The portfolio includes the Grammy award-winning Live Like You Were Dying by Tim McGraw and Carrie Underwood’s hits Before He Cheats and Blown Away. It also boasts multiple Grammy nominations, including George Strait’s 56th No.1 hit, I Saw God Today, and other hits by the likes of Blake Shelton, Keith Urban, Kenny Chesney, Luke Bryan, and Reba McEntire.
“Craig Wiseman and his publishing company, Big Loud Shirt, have produced some of the highest profile, most recognizable and enduring country music hits of the last three decades, bringing them firmly in line with the song profile of the company’s portfolio.”
Josh Gruss, Round Hill
Wiseman was named “Songwriter of the Decade” by the Nashville Songwriters Association International in 2009 and inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2015.
In 2003, Wiseman founded independent publisher Big Loud Shirt, amassing a roster of songwriters and achieving over 40 No.1 hit singles. Billboard recognized Big Loud Shirt as one of the Top 10 music publishing companies in the US.
In 2017, RHM signed a publishing deal with Big Loud Shirt.
“Craig Wiseman and his publishing company, Big Loud Shirt, have produced some of the highest profile, most recognizable and enduring country music hits of the last three decades, bringing them firmly in line with the song profile of the company’s portfolio,” said Josh Gruss, CEO of Round Hill Music LP.
Added Gruss: “We have a terrific working relationship with Craig, who we have known for many years, and are deeply familiar with these songs. This investment not only enables us to further increase Round Hill Music’s exposure to the fast growing country music genre, but also provides an exciting opportunity for us to leverage our in-house platform to manage these incredible songs, maximizing their income streams and further growing their value.”
“I have known and been working with Round Hill for a decade and I’m thrilled to be expanding our relationship by sharing these incredible pieces of art with them. I know they will manage these songs carefully and effectively, identifying creative opportunities to bring them to new audiences worldwide.”
Craig Wiseman
With the acquisition, RHM further expands its country music portfolio. As of December 31, country music constituted 11% of RHM’s catalog.
Last year, the company acquired a “significant” share of the publishing rights of American country singer/songwriter, Niko Moon.
The company reports that the Round Hill Music portfolio was valued at USD $602.6 million as December 31, 2022. The portfolio includes songs by artists including 90s Seattle band Alice In Chains, British Rock band Bush, Celine Dion, country music star Carrie Underwood, The Supremes, Wilson Pickett and Whitesnake.
Wiseman added: “I have known and been working with Round Hill for a decade and I’m thrilled to be expanding our relationship by sharing these incredible pieces of art with them.
“I know they will manage these songs carefully and effectively, identifying creative opportunities to bring them to new audiences worldwide.”
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