Sony Music Publishing has acquired Hipgnosis Songs Group LLC, previously known as Big Deal Music, from Blackstone’s Recognition Music Group, sources involved in the deal have confirmed.
Big Deal Music was acquired by Hipgnosis Songs Fund in September 2020. As well as bringing 4,400 copyrights into Hipgnosis, that deal included the company’s US publishing admin business, Words & Music.
These assets have now been acquired by SMP, including the 4,400 copyrights. They include cuts in songs recorded by Shawn Mendes, Panic! At the Disco, and One Direction.
They also include publishing shares for current chart performers including Sabrina Carpenter‘s Taste, Espresso, and Feather, alongside Ordinary by Alex Warren and Lose Control by Teddy Swims.
It’s been known for some time that Recognition/Blackstone was planning to offload the Big Deal/HSG assets.
In July 2024, investment giant Blackstone acquired Hipgnosis Songs Fund‘s assets from HSF’s then-public shareholders in a transaction worth USD $1.584 billion.
During the bidding process for HSF, Blackstone said that within six to nine months following the HSF acquisition, it may sell or restructure Hipgnosis Songs Group LLC – aka Hipgnosis’ US songs administration business formerly known as Big Deal Music.
Equally important in this story is what HASN’T been sold by Recognition/Blackstone.
Following the deal, Recognition continues to own and manage over 45,000 songs and recordings from over 145 catalogs, including songs by songwriters and artists including the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Fleetwood Mac, Neil Young, Eurythmics, Justin Bieber, Shakira and Journey.
Less than a month ago, Recognition Music formed a Senior Advisory Group and appointed Matt Spetzler as Chairman, alongside Lisa Alter and David H Johnson as members.
At the time, Recognition said its new Senior Advisory Group will provide ”strategic counsel and guidance” to the company, and will “support in its mission of enhancing the legacy and value of its song portfolio”.
According to Sony Music Group’s latest quarterly report, the group’s global music publishing operation – led by Sony Music Publishing – generated USD $630.9 million in the three months to end of March 2025. That quarterly revenue figure, at the US dollar level, was up 12.9% year-on-year.
Sony Music Publishing, run by CEO & Chairman Jon Platt, is Sony’s US-headquartered music publishing operation.
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