BMG has completed its acquisition of three of the most important music publishing catalogs in American history, taking full ownership of the Hal David songwriting catalog, the John Lee Hooker publishing rights, and ARC Music.
This wasn’t a new deal. BMG first got involved with ARC Music back in 2010 when they partnered with Fuji Music Group to administer the catalog, then bought a majority stake in 2016. They co-acquired the John Lee Hooker publishing rights with Fuji in 2022. The latest transaction gives BMG full ownership of all three catalogs for the first time.
Here’s what BMG now fully controls:
Hal David Songwriting Catalog — the Grammy and Oscar-winning lyricist who co-wrote with Burt Bacharach and shaped the sound of 1960s and 70s pop and soul. His publishing catalog includes “Walk On By,” “What The World Needs Now Is Love,” “I Say A Little Prayer,” “Raindrops Keep Fallin’ On My Head,” and songs recorded by Dionne Warwick, among others.
John Lee Hooker Publishing Rights — Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee and Grammy Lifetime Achievement winner, one of the founding fathers of the blues. His catalog includes “Boom Boom,” “One Bourbon One Scotch One Beer,” and “Boogie Chillen’,” now fully owned by BMG.
ARC Music Catalog — founded in 1948 by Leonard and Phil Chess as the publishing counterpart to Chess Records. The ARC Music roster includes songs made famous by Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley, Howlin’ Wolf, Muddy Waters, and Etta James, making it one of the most significant blues and rock and roll publishing catalogs ever assembled.
BMG now has full ownership of all three.
BMG Acquires Full Ownership of Hal David, John Lee Hooker, and ARC Music Publishing Catalogs
BMG has completed its acquisition of three of the most important music publishing catalogs in American history, taking full ownership of the Hal David songwriting catalog, the John Lee Hooker publishing rights, and ARC Music.
This wasn’t a new deal. BMG first got involved with ARC Music back in 2010 when they partnered with Fuji Music Group to administer the catalog, then bought a majority stake in 2016. They co-acquired the John Lee Hooker publishing rights with Fuji in 2022. The latest transaction gives BMG full ownership of all three catalogs for the first time.
Here’s what BMG now fully controls:
Hal David Songwriting Catalog — the Grammy and Oscar-winning lyricist who co-wrote with Burt Bacharach and shaped the sound of 1960s and 70s pop and soul. His publishing catalog includes “Walk On By,” “What The World Needs Now Is Love,” “I Say A Little Prayer,” “Raindrops Keep Fallin’ On My Head,” and songs recorded by Dionne Warwick, among others.
John Lee Hooker Publishing Rights — Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee and Grammy Lifetime Achievement winner, one of the founding fathers of the blues. His catalog includes “Boom Boom,” “One Bourbon One Scotch One Beer,” and “Boogie Chillen’,” now fully owned by BMG.
ARC Music Catalog — founded in 1948 by Leonard and Phil Chess as the publishing counterpart to Chess Records. The ARC Music roster includes songs made famous by Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley, Howlin’ Wolf, Muddy Waters, and Etta James, making it one of the most significant blues and rock and roll publishing catalogs ever assembled.
BMG now has full ownership of all three.
BMG has completed its acquisition of three of the most important music publishing catalogs in American history, taking full ownership of the Hal David songwriting catalog, the John Lee Hooker publishing rights, and ARC Music.
This wasn’t a new deal. BMG first got involved with ARC Music back in 2010 when they partnered with Fuji Music Group to administer the catalog, then bought a majority stake in 2016. They co-acquired the John Lee Hooker publishing rights with Fuji in 2022. The latest transaction gives BMG full ownership of all three catalogs for the first time.
Here’s what BMG now fully controls:
Hal David Songwriting Catalog — the Grammy and Oscar-winning lyricist who co-wrote with Burt Bacharach and shaped the sound of 1960s and 70s pop and soul. His publishing catalog includes “Walk On By,” “What The World Needs Now Is Love,” “I Say A Little Prayer,” “Raindrops Keep Fallin’ On My Head,” and songs recorded by Dionne Warwick, among others.
John Lee Hooker Publishing Rights — Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee and Grammy Lifetime Achievement winner, one of the founding fathers of the blues. His catalog includes “Boom Boom,” “One Bourbon One Scotch One Beer,” and “Boogie Chillen’,” now fully owned by BMG.
ARC Music Catalog — founded in 1948 by Leonard and Phil Chess as the publishing counterpart to Chess Records. The ARC Music roster includes songs made famous by Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley, Howlin’ Wolf, Muddy Waters, and Etta James, making it one of the most significant blues and rock and roll publishing catalogs ever assembled.
BMG now has full ownership of all three.
