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Hipgnosis acquires songs catalogue of Carole Bayer Sager

By Andy Malt | Published on Thursday 18 March 2021

The good old Hipgnosis Songs Fund has acquired the catalogue of songwriter Carole Bayer Sager because, well, why the hell not? After all, the deal covers classic songs like ‘A Groovy Kind Of Love’, ‘Nobody Does It Better’ and ‘That’s What Friends Are For’.

“This is one of the most important deals we have ever made”, says Hipgnosis founder Merck Mercuriadis. “Carole’s iconic songs have been making the world go around for more than 55 years. She has an elegance with words that has made these songs universal and they are not only enormously successful but truly beloved all over the globe. It’s very special to welcome Carole to the Hipgnosis family and it’s an honour to now be the custodians of these incredible songs that are of genuine cultural importance”.

Bayer Sager adds: “In speaking with Merck, I was surprised to find how intimately acquainted he was with my catalogue of songs. Hearing his plans to keep these songs alive and bring them to a new generation of listeners excited me and convinced me now was the right time to allow a new custodian to take charge of their future. With Merck and his Hipgnosis family, I feel my songs are going to be nurtured and cared for. I look forward to yet another wonderful collaboration”.

Bayer Sager’s first hit was ‘A Groovy Kind Of Love’, written for The Mindbenders in 1965 while she was still in high school. Since then, her songs have been performed by acts including Carly Simon, Barbra Streisand, Michael Jackson, Frank Sinatra, Bob Dylan, Whitney Houston, Ray Charles, Dolly Parton, Aretha Franklin, Neil Diamond, Bette Midler, Celine Dion, Phil Collins and Rod Stewart. She also released three albums in the 1970s as a recording artist in her own right.