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Business News Deals Labels & Publishers
Hipgnosis signs Xenomania’s Brian Higgins
By Andy Malt | Published on Friday 24 January 2020
The Hipgnosis Songs Fund’s latest acquisition is the catalogue of songwriter and Xenomania founder Brian Higgins, giving the still uber-acquisitive music rights investment fund a stake in songs written for Cher, Kylie Minogue, Girls Aloud, The Sugababes and more.
After launching Xenomania in the mid-90s with Miranda Cooper, Tim Powell and Matt Gray, the music-making team quickly became revered pop songwriters and producers. A big early hit was Cher’s ‘Believe’, which Higgins co-wrote. Xenomania was also very closely associated with Girls Aloud.
“I’m delighted to welcome Brian Higgins to the Hipgnosis family”, says the firm’s founder Merck Mercuriadis of his latest deal and new partnership. “He is one of the finest writers of the last 25 years and ‘Believe’ in particular is an evergreen song that has gained iconic status”.
Higgins adds: “I started Xenomania in 1996 and to see it in 2020 as a standalone independent record label and publishing company is something that gives me deep pride and great joy. I’m very grateful to Merck and Hipgnosis for the opportunity they have presented me to guarantee the label’s presence in the worldwide music landscape for decades to come”.
The deal covers 100% of Higgins’ production and songwriting catalogue worldwide, comprising 362 songs.
