Hipgnosis buys catalogue from Itaal Shur – Hipgnosis Songs Fund Limited has bought a music catalogue from Itaal Shur, best known for co-writing the multi platinum song ‘Smooth‘ which according to Billboard magazine is the second most successful song of all time. ‘Smooth’ is the only song to have ever appeared on two Billboard decade ending charts in both 2000 and 2010 and it was The Grammy “Song Of The Year” for 1999. ‘Smooth’ became a chart-topping hit in 1999, spending 12 consecutive weeks at number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song then stayed in the top ten of the Billboard Hot 100 for a total of 30 weeks and, in 2018, Billboard ranked it as the second most successful song of all time. In a post streaming world ‘Smooth’ has proven itself to be evergreen approaching half a billion streams as it approaches its 20(th) anniversary.
The company has acquired a 100% interest in the catalogue including the BMI (Broadcast Music Inc.) share. The catalogue comprises 209 songs in total, which also includes the US Top 10 song ‘Ascension‘ by Maxwell.
Merck Mercuriadis, founder of The Family (Music) Limited and Hipgnosis Songs Fund Limited, said: “It’s always a good day when you are buying arguably the second most successful song of all time, particularly a song as enduring and iconic as Smooth. As Santana prepare to go out on the “Supernatural Now” 20(th) Anniversary Tour this is the perfect time to get involved. I’d like to thank Itaal for entrusting us with a work as special as this.”
Itaal Shur, said: “When I was considering selling my life’s work, who bought it and what they could do with it was as important to me as anything else. From the first time that I spoke to Merck, I knew that Hipgnosis was fresh and different and that I had found the right home for my catalogue.”
SONG : Hipgnosis buys catalogue from Itaal Shur
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