'Music is as good as gold or oil': meet the man spending billions on old hits | The Guardian

Former Elton John and Beyoncé manager Merck Mercuriadis on championing artists and his business buying over 13,000 songs

Livin’ on a Prayer, Heart of Glass, Copacabana, Single Ladies.They’re all huge pop songs and dancefloor favourites of the past 50 years. And according to one music industry veteran, they are more valuable than gold.

Merck Mercuriadis is the founder of Hipgnosis, a London-listed company offering investors the chance to make money from the royalties generated from these and thousands of other songs by famous artists.

The deals struck by Hipgnosis show there is still money to be made in music publishing.

Bon Jovi – Livin’ on a Prayer

Eurythmics – Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)

Amy Winehouse – Back to Black

Justin Timberlake – SexyBack

Journey – Don’t Stop Believin’

Rihanna – Umbrella

Beyoncé – Single Ladies

Blondie – Rapture

Ed Sheeran – Shape of You

Al Green – Let’s Stay Together

Adele – Set Fire to the Rain

Barry Manilow – Copacabana

Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee – Despacito (Remix) feat. Justin Bieber

Mark Ronson feat. Bruno Mars – Uptown Funk

The Chainsmokers – Closer

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