Neil Young Sells 50% Of Song Catalog

Neil Young sold 50% of his publishing rights to his song catalog to Hipgnosis Songs. The deal, terms of which were not disclosed, includes approximately 1,180 of Young’s compositions.

According to Variety, Young retains control over sync clearance for his catalog of songs. Young’s agreement with Hipgnosis, which is reportedly between $50 million and $150 million, follows similar deals Hipgnosis announced this week with former Fleetwood Mac guitarist Lindsay Buckingham and with producer Jimmy Iovine.

Hipgnosis founder Merck Mercuriadis issued the following statement regarding the Young acquisition:

This is a deal that changes Hipgnosis forever. I bought my first Neil Young album aged seven. Harvest was my companion and I know every note, every word, every pause and silence intimately. Neil Young, or at least his music, has been my friend and constant ever since.

Over the last 50 years that friendship took me back to Buffalo Springfield, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere, After The Gold Rush, and guided me forward to On The Beach, Tonight’s The Night, Zuma, Comes A Time, Rust Never Sleeps, Trans, This Notes For You, Freedom, Ragged Glory, Greendale and through each successive album and on to last year’s Colorado. They’re part of who I am, they’re in many ways responsible for who I’ve become and they’re most certainly in my DNA.

I knew I would never be a singer or songwriter myself so my love for Neil also extended to his manager Elliot Roberts, who is sadly no longer with us, Elliot was the template for who I wanted to be. He and Neil were partners in crime and Elliot made sure the art was never compromised and the commerce always maximized. He complimented Neil’s integrity perfectly and together they protected the songs so fiercely that they became important to millions of people all over the world. This was personal conduct that you could aspire to, something you could believe in.

Somewhere along the way Elliot became a mentor to me and my friend. This allowed me to collide with Neil from time to time and Frank Gironda as well. We had a mutual respect as people whose lives were changed forever by music and particularly by this magical music. With Elliot’s passing last year it was only natural that Frank, who had so ably worked alongside him, would step into his shoes and also as it now turns out logical for Hipgnosis to partner with Neil to ensure his incredible songs reach all corners of the earth.

I built Hipgnosis to be a company Neil would want to be a part of. We have a common integrity, ethos and passion born out of a belief in music and these important songs. There will never be a “Burger Of Gold” but we will work together to make sure everyone gets to hear them on Neil’s terms. There’s a good chance their life will be changed just like mine .

Mercuriadis’ mention of “Burger Of Gold” was in reference to a statement Young made from the stage during a 1973 concert before a performance of “Heart Of Gold.” Portions of the show were released in 2019 as the Neil Young & The Stray Gators’ live album Tuscaloosa.

Young’s agreement with Hipgnosis also follows Bob Dylan's recent sale of his publishing rights to Universal Music Group. That deal was worth an estimated $300 million.