BMG has announced its acquisition of the remaining interests in the songwriting works of the publishing catalogs of John Lee Hooker, Hal David, and ARC Music — three major archives that it is no understatement to say helped shape American popular music.
The deal completes a transaction first announced in 2016, when BMG acquired a majority stake in the ARC Music catalog from Fuji Music Group. BMG first partnered with Fuji Music Group to administer the catalog in 2010 before acquiring its majority interest.
The transaction includes the remaining interest in the publishing catalog of Grammy and Academy Award-winning lyricist Hal David, one of the most celebrated songwriters of the 20th century. Best known for his legendary partnership with Burt Bacharach and his defining collaborations with Dionne Warwick, David’s body of work includes “Raindrops Keep Fallin’ On My Head,” “I’ll Never Fall In Love Again,” “Walk On By,” “What The World Needs Now Is Love,” “I Say A Little Prayer,” “Do You Know The Way To San Jose?,” “Don’t Make Me Over,” and “What’s New Pussycat?,” among others.
The acquisition also brings the entire publishing catalog of genre-defining bluesman John Lee Hooker fully under BMG for the first time, following a deal in 2022 when BMG co-acquired the rights, with Fuji Music Group, from Hooker’s estate. Songs written by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee and Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award-winner include “Boom Boom,” “One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer,” “Dimples,” “Boogie Chillen’,” and more.
