Hipgnosis Songs Fund raises over $100 million on online music streaming boom By Reuters

(Reuters) – Hipgnosis Songs Fund said on Friday it had raised 75 million pounds ($102.95 million) through a share sale, as the investment firm seeks to cash in on the explosion of online music streaming during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The London-listed firm, which invests in songs and musical intellectual property rights, said it sold roughly 62 million shares at 121 pence per share.

Hipgnosis said that the year was off to its “strongest start ever” following a slew of agreements with big names including Shakira and Neil Young.

The pandemic has prompted many music industry professionals to monetise their older work by selling valuable tracks and albums, as people confined to their homes stream more content to make up for cancelled live events.

“Whilst we would not have wished for a pandemic to prove our thesis that music is a highly investable asset class generating uncorrelated returns, it has done exactly that,” said founder Merck Mercuriadis, who has previously been a manager to artists Elton John and Beyoncé.