BMG Rights Management has finalized a trio of major acquisitions that consolidate control over the publishing and recorded interests of blues legend John Lee Hooker, songwriting titan Hal David, and the historic ARC Music publishing company. This move significantly expands BMG’s footprint in Black music and the blues genre, adding evergreen copyrights that drive substantial performance and streaming revenue for labels, publishers, and rights holders globally.
Consolidating Blues and Songwriting Legacies
The company acquired the remaining interests in John Lee Hooker’s entire publishing catalog from his estate, partnering with Fujipacific Music to secure rights to iconic tracks including “Boom Boom,” “One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer,” and “Boogie Chillen”. Beyond publishing, BMG now controls Hooker’s entire recorded and performance royalty income, alongside a specific selection of his recorded albums spanning from Alone, Vol. 1 (1980) through Black Night Is Falling (2020). While some third-party rights remain due to the complexity of Hooker’s legacy, BMG will lead the promotion of his catalog, joining a roster of blues luminaries the company already represents, such as Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf, and Son House.
Simultaneously, BMG secured the legendary Hal David catalogue, a deal insiders report involved an investment of approximately $42 million for the songwriter’s publishing interests. The acquisition includes David’s rights to massive hits like “Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head,” “Walk On By,” “What The World Needs Now Is Love,” and “I Say A Little Prayer,” many co-written with Burt Bacharach. The David family retains the writer’s share of these songs, while BMG assumes the publisher’s share, which is estimated to generate between $3.5 million and $3.8 million in net revenue annually.
Strategic Control of ARC Music Publishing
In a separate but related transaction, BMG acquired a majority interest in the ARC Music publishing catalogue from Fuji Music Group. Originally founded in 1948 by Leonard and Phil Chess as the publishing counterpart to their Chess Records label, ARC holds a vast repertoire of US blues and rock ‘n’ roll classics. The catalogue features songs made famous by Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley, The Beach Boys, and Howlin’ Wolf, further cementing BMG’s dominance in the genre.
Following the deal, BMG and Fuji Music Group agreed to collaborate on exploring additional opportunities to create a portfolio of evergreen copyrights. This acquisition complements BMG’s recent string of high-profile deals, including rights acquisitions for Tina Turner, Mötley Crüe, ZZ Top, and Mick Fleetwood. By securing majority control of ARC and full interests in Hooker and David, BMG positions itself as a primary administrator for some of the most durable and commercially viable assets in the music industry.
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