MERCK BETS ON REDONE

Hipgnosis Songs Fund Limited and its investment adviser The Family (Music) Limited have announced the acquisition of the music catalog from three-time Grammy winning producer/songwriter RedOne.

Over the last 15 years, RedOne has emerged an elite hitmaking producer, having co-written or produced on songs that have achieved 185 #1's globally. Among the artists he has credits with: Lady Gaga, Jennifer Lopez, One Direction, Shakira, Enrique Iglesias, Marc Anthony, Jason Derulo and Nicki Minaj.

Best known for his collaborations with Lady Gaga, RedOne produced six songs on her 2008 debut album The Fame, including "Love Game" and #1 smashes "Poker Face" and "Just Dance." He co-wrote five new tracks on the 2009 deluxe album The Fame Monster, including "Alejandro" and "Bad Romance," both #1's. Both albums combined for over 15m units sold worldwide, making it the 9th best-selling album of the millenium.

RedOne also co-wrote and produced on three songs on Born This Way, including "Judas," and has credits on Gaga's fifth album, Joanne. He also collaborated with Nicki Minaj on "Starships" (6x platinum) and "Pound The Alarm" (1x), along with Enrique Iglesias' "I Like It" f/Pitbull (4x).

His songs with Gaga have amassed over 5 billion streams worldwide and "Bad Romance" and "Poker Face" have been certified Diamond.

Hipgnosis has acquired 100% of RedOne’s Songs and Recorded Music interests including Copyright, Writer Royalties and Producer Royalties in his catalogue comprising 337 songs.

RedOne was represented in the transaction by his manager Zack Dekkaki, lawyers Jonathan Koby and Joel Katz at Greenberg Traurig and Provident Financial Management.

Hipgnosis founder Merck Mercuriadis said, "Lady Gaga and RedOne represent one of the greatest Producer-Artist songwriting relationships of all time. They single-handedly put electronic dance music on the radio and changed the sound of pop music for more than a decade with evergreen songs. We are delighted to welcome RedOne to the Hipgnosis family with these incredible songs that are amongst the most important of the millennium."

RedOne added, "Merck is absolutely someone who really understands the art of music and appreciates the value of hit songs. After speaking to him I knew Hipgnosis is the Company I would be happy to sell my music catalogue to."