While Hipgnosis has spent more than $1.7 billion acquiring catalogs from major artists such as Neil Young and Barry Manilow as well as lesser-known but successful producers and songwriters such as Timbaland, Poo Bear, Mark Ronson, Eurythmics Dave Stewart and dozens of others, Jacobson’s purview is wider.
According to an SPAC S-1 prospectus for Jacobson’s new company, it is raising the money to buy unidentified music assets after its floatation — but not just copyrights.
The firm’s top officers include Jacobson as CEO and chairman, Todd Lowen . Directors include Michael Levitt , film-TV producer Ben Silverman and Tunde Balogun, president and co-founder of multi-faceted music company LVRN, which manages Summer Walker and 6lack, among others.
A graduate of Berklee School of Music — from which he and Bhasker graduated in 1999 — Jacobson spent 17 years at Interscope-Geffen-A&M, where he signed or working closely with Avicii, Black Eyed Peas, LMFAO and others. Hallwood originated as Interscope Records’ producer management division, which Jacobson started in 2013; he spun it off into Hallwood as part of his exit from Geffen.
The prospectus, dated Jan. 15, reads in part: “We believe that our management team’s extensive experience acquiring, operating and growing businesses in the music sector, coupled with their vast network of leading industry executives, entrepreneurs, investors and deal makers, will provide access to attractive business combination opportunities and position us to succeed in consummating an initial business combination.
MAC SPAC?