# Hipgnosis Songs Fund Limited

Hipgnosis Songs Fund Limited is an Investment Trust based in London, United Kingdom.

## Overview

- **Organization type:** Investment Trust
- **Headquarters:** London, United Kingdom
- **Region:** Europe
- **Address:** London, United Kingdom
- **Founded:** 2018
- **Assets under management:** £2B+ (per company filings, 2023)
- **Website:** hipgnosissongs.com
- **LinkedIn:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/hipgnosis-songs-fund

## Regulatory record

- **Reports private funds:** No

## About

Merck Mercuriadis, a former music manager who worked with artists including Elton John and Beyoncé, launched Hipgnosis Songs Fund in 2018 as a publicly traded investment trust on the London Stock Exchange. The vehicle raised roughly £1 billion in its initial public offering and subsequent capital raises (per Bloomberg, 2018). Hipgnosis targets song catalogs with enduring cash flows, acquiring full or fractional ownership of copyrights. Strategy centers on acquiring publishing rights and recorded-music royalties from established artists and songwriters. As of mid-2023, the fund held stakes in over 150 catalogs representing roughly 70,000 songs, including works by Neil Young, Shakira, and Rihanna (per Music Business Worldwide, 2023). Hipgnosis sources deals through direct negotiations, auction processes, and relationships with artist estates and record labels. Deployment spans North America and Europe, with a focus on English-language repertoire. In October 2023, Hipgnosis faced shareholder pressure after several revaluations reduced net asset value, leading to a strategic review and subsequent acquisition offer from Concord (per Financial Times, 2024). The fund had approximately 40 employees in London and New York as of 2023. Related vehicles include Hipgnosis Songs Capital, a joint venture with Blackstone launched in 2021. Hipgnosis is structured as an investment trust, not a traditional family office or private equity fund, offering retail and institutional investors exposure to song royalties. This public-market wrapper, combined with active catalog management and streaming-era revenue growth, distinguishes its model from private music funds or direct artist ownership.

## Sectors

- Media & Entertainment
- Music & Publishing

## People

- Merck Mercuriadis — Founder and CEO
- Andrew Wilkinson — Chairman

## Questions

### How does Hipgnosis source proprietary deal flow?

Hipgnosis sources deals through direct negotiations with songwriters, artist estates, and record labels, as well as participating in auction processes. The fund's founder's industry relationships provide access to catalogs not widely marketed (per Music Business Worldwide, 2023).

### What investment stages does Hipgnosis typically target?

Hipgnosis invests in established, income-generating music catalogs rather than early-stage or development-stage assets. It targets catalogs with proven streaming, sync, and royalty histories (per FT, 2023).

### Which sectors does Hipgnosis explicitly avoid?

Hipgnosis focuses exclusively on music intellectual property rights—publishing and recorded-master royalties. It does not invest in other entertainment sectors such as film, television, or sports, nor in non-music assets (per public filings).

### How is Hipgnosis related to Hipgnosis Songs Capital and Blackstone?

Hipgnosis Songs Capital is a separate joint venture formed in 2021 between Hipgnosis Song Management and Blackstone, with $1 billion in commitments for music acquisitions. It is a distinct entity from the publicly listed Hipgnosis Songs Fund (per PR Newswire, 2021).

## Related profiles

- [Distribution Contractors Association](https://altss.com/profile/distribution-contractors-association)

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Last updated: 2026-06-03T20:00:00.000Z

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