Barry Manilow sells treasure trove of hits to Hipgnosis
Barry Manilow, the singer of hits including Copacabana, Mandy and Could It Be Magic who has sold more than 85 million records, has become the latest artist to sell his catalogue to Hipgnosis Songs Fund.
The top "adult contemporary" chart artist of all time according to Billboard, Manilow has notched up 12 Number 1, 29 top 10 and 50 top 40 hits in a career that has spanned almost half a century.
His recent version of When the Good Times Come Again peaked at no 12 in the US, making Manilow the first artist to have a top 20 song in each of the past six decades.
He has released 39 albums, 29 of which went certified platinum and span genres from contemporary pop to jazz, Swing and Broadway show tunes and has also produced records for artists including Bette Midler and Dionne Warwick.
Some of Manilow's other biggest songs include Can't Smile Without You, I Write The Songs and Looks Like We Made It and many have become hits decades later for other acts including Take That and Boyzone.
Hipgnosis has acquired 100pc of the artist's worldwide recording royalties in his catalogue of 917 songs.
Founder Merck Mercuriadis said: "Barry Manilow is an international treasure. He's an incomparable artist, songwriter, arranger, musician and performer. In the 1970s and 80s he redefined mainstream entertainment and drove it to new heights of success with truly classic songs... he is one of those rare artists that unites everyone."
Manilow said: "Merck has created a new type of music company and I'm looking forward to being part of the family at The Family Music and Hipgnosis Songs."
The deal comes just days after the company bought the catalogue of four-time Grammy winner Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins, who has written and produced smash hits for the likes of Lady Gaga, Beyonce, Destiny's Child, Jennifer Lopez, Mary J. Blige, Toni Braxton, Brandy and Sam Smith.
Since listing in London just over two years ago, Hipgnosis has raised more than £860m to buy the rights to songs and associated intellectual property.
Shares were flat at 117p, valuing the company at £720m.
