Deal is the latest in artist acquisitions
BMG has acquired a substantial stake in the work of two-time Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee, Grammy Award-winning, American musical icon Paul Simon with the purchase of his royalty income in Simon & Garfunkel recordings as well as his neighboring rights income.
Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel are among the world’s best-selling artists of all time and winners of seven Grammy Awards. Tracks including “The Sound Of Silence,” “The Boxer,” “Mrs Robinson” and “Bridge Over Troubled Water” reached No. 1 around the world and have been streamed hundreds of millions of times.
Albums including Wednesday Morning, 3AM (1964), Sounds Of Silence (1966), Parsley, Sage, Rosemary & Thyme (1966), Bookends (1968) and Bridge Over Troubled Waters (1970) are among the most influential in music industry history.
“In any list of the true greats, Paul Simon stands as one of the pillars of popular music history,” shares BMG’s Thomas Scherer. “We will play our part to ensure his music continues to be honored and respected.”
Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Simon is the latest artist to sell interests in their catalog. Earlier this month, BMG acquired The Hollies recorded catalogue. Tina Turner, John Legend, Mötley Crüe, ZZ Top, Mick Fleetwood, Peter Frampton, The Beach Boys, Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan and countless others have sold their rights to organizations over the past several years.
Last month, Simon released his highly anticipated musical work, Seven Psalms. Intended to be listened to as one continuous piece, the 33-minute, seven-movement composition transcends the concept of the “album” and is available via Owl Records and Legacy Recordings.
