Portrait of American folk rock duo Simon & Garfunkel, circa 1963
In the latest chess move in the competition for publishing rights, BMG has acquired a substantial stake in the work of Paul Simon with the purchase of his royalty income in Simon & Garfunkel recordings as well as his neighboring rights income.
Simon & 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 composed by Simon, a Grammy winner and two-time Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee who penned the duo’s entire catalog, include Wednesday Morning, 3AM (1964), Sounds Of Silence (1966), Parsley, Sage, Rosemary & Thyme (1966), Bookends (1968) and Bridge Over Troubled Waters (1970).
“In any list of the true greats, Paul Simon stands as one of the pillars of popular music history. We will play our part to ensure his music continues to be honored and respected,” said Thomas Scherer, BMG president of repertoire & marketing, Los Angeles and New York. Terns of the deal were not disclosed.
In the past two years BMG has concluded acquisitions for rights and/or royalties in the work of artists and/or songwriters including Tina Turner, John Legend, Mötley Crüe, ZZ Top, Mick Fleetwood, Peter Frampton, Harry Nilsson, John Lee Hooker, Simple Minds, Primal Scream, Jean-Michel Jarre, and most recently The Hollies.
“We are delighted to have secured the agreement of Paul Simon for BMG to acquire his royalty interests in Simon & Garfunkel recordings and his neighboring rights income,” said BMG CEO-designate Thomas Coesfeld. “This is a significant transaction. Our ability to secure this deal demonstrates once again that BMG provides the best home for the greatest artists.”
BMG represents or owns rights in the work of artists including Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, Tina Turner, George Harrison, John Lennon, Ringo Starr, Harry Nilsson, Buddy Holly, Jim Croce, Roger Waters, Kurt Cobain, Blondie, David Bowie, Scorpions, The Kinks, Black Sabbath and Iron Maiden.
