Nashville-based independent music company Concord has agreed to buy Britain’s Hipgnosis Songs Fund for $1.4-billion, the companies said on Thursday, to gain rights to the catalogues of artists including Shakira and Neil Young.
Hipgnosis bought several music rights over the years and attracted investors with a steady source of income on royalties from streaming and performances, but faltering valuations amid high interest rates have pressured the group. “The main uncertainty at this stage is whether the investment adviser will trigger the purchase option on the portfolio, and return with the necessary higher offer,” Jefferies analyst Matthew Hose wrote in a note.