MERCK DOES IT AGAIN—HOLIDAY EDITION

Hipgnosis Songs Fund Limited and its investment advisor, The Family (Music) Limited, have acquired another music catalog, this one from Grammy-winning producer, mixer and engineer Brendan O’Brien, who has helmed some of the most influential rock albums of the last three decades, including 17 U.S. #1 albums.

During the course of his distinguished career, O’Brien has worked with Bruce Springsteen, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Pearl Jam, Stone Temple Pilots, Rage Against the Machine, Korn, Train and The Killers.

O’Brien gained recognition in 1990 by mixing The Black Crowes' debut album, Shake Your Money Maker, which peaked at #4 on the Top 200, and has gone on to sell over 5m in the U.S. In 1991 O’Brien mixed the Red Hot Chili Peppers’ breakthrough album Blood Sugar Sex Magik, which is certified 7x platinum in the U.S. and 3x platinum in the U.K. That LP’s single "Under the Bridge" reached #2 on the Hot 100 and is certified platinum in both the U.S. and U.K.

O’Brien also collaborated closely with Pearl Jam, producing or mixing the band's Grammy-nominated albums VS. and Vitalogy. He produced Rage Against the Machine’s albums Evil Empire, The Battle of Los Angeles which reached #1 in the U.S., and the U.S. platinum certified Renegades. He also mixed Superunknown, Soundgarden's breakout album, earning the band international recognition.

O’Brien produced and mixed nearly the entire catalogue of the Grammy-winning Stone Temple Pilots, including their 8x U.S. platinum certified 1991 debut album Core, and U.S. #1 album Purple. In 2002, he collaborated with Springsteen producing his album The Rising, which won the Grammy for Best Rock Album.

The catalog also includes Korn’s U.S. #1 album Follow the Leader, Limp Bizkit’s U.S. #1 LP Significant Other, The Offspring’s U.S. platinum certified album Conspiracy of One’ Train’s 2x platinum certified album Drops of Jupiter, Audioslave’s U.S. #1 album Out Of Exile, AC/DC’s LP Black Ice which reached #1 in 29 countries including the U.S. and U.K., and The Killers U.K. #1 album Battle Born.

O’Brien has been nominated for the Producer of the Year Grammy three times, winning in 2009. Hipgnosis has acquired 100% of O’Brien’s interest in his catalog, comprising his worldwide producer royalties for 1,855 works.

Merck Mercuriadis, Founder of The Family (Music) Limited and Hipgnosis Songs Fund Limited, said: “Brendan O’Brien is one of the greatest producers of all time, and certainly defines the best rock music of not only the '90s but the last 30 years. Almost every artist he has helped develop has entered or will enter the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame for good reason. I’m beyond honoured to welcome Brendan and his historic catalog into the Hipgnosis family.”

Neil Jacobson added: “Not only does this catalogue speak for itself, but you also have to understand how incredible the quality of each vocal is. Brendan's ear for vocal production might be one of the greatest of all time. Each one of these copyrights is a case study in what we call a magic vocal.”

O’Brien said: “Merck and Hipgnosis were really passionate about the music I’ve been lucky enough to be a part of over the years. They are music people, and their commitment made me feel like the records would be in safe hands.”