Hipgnosis, the groundbreaking music rights company that emerged in 2018 with a black-and-white logo designed by the renowned Storm Thorgerson, is set for a major rebranding. According to MBW, both the Hipgnosis name and its iconic logo will soon be retired as the company undergoes a complete identity overhaul.
This change is intended to reflect the company’s new structure following the privatization of the Hipgnosis Songs Fund. In July, Blackstone, which already owned a majority stake in Hipgnosis Song Management, acquired the remaining shares of the Songs Fund for $1.584 billion. The Fund’s 40,000-song portfolio has since merged with the privately held Hipgnosis Songs Capital, which includes works by Leonard Cohen, Justin Timberlake, Justin Bieber, Nelly Furtado, and Kenny Chesney, under the leadership of Ben Katovsky. Founder Merck Mercuriadis stepped down in July.
With the integration of these previously separate entities, a unified rebrand is considered necessary. A new name and identity are expected to be announced around the end of the year, signaling the company’s shift from managing separate funds to operating as a single, integrated business.
Additionally, Hipgnosis has reportedly been in talks with major music companies regarding a potential multi-territory publishing administration deal for its reverted catalogs, though these discussions are still in the early stages. Despite a slowdown in the music M&A market compared to 2018-2022, Hipgnosis remains prepared to acquire new catalogs and copyright portfolios as opportunities arise.
Meanwhile, the company has been expanding its team, promoting Sara Lord to Chief Creative Officer. Katovsky praised Lord’s expertise and her ability to build partnerships across the creative industries, which aligns with the company’s strategy to broaden the reach of its iconic song collection.
