The
Terms were not disclosed.
The deal comes a month after
Merck Mercuriadis, founder of
“'Harvest' was my companion and I know every note, every word, every pause and silence intimately,” he said. “Neil Young, or at least his music, has been my friend . . . ever since.”
The businessman also said Young's late manager,
In an industry where music sales have dwindled and the concert industry is on hold due to the coronavirus pandemic, song publishing is seen as an increasingly valuable asset. The companies generally push for use of an artist's songs in movies, video games and advertising.
The latter use has been a sticking point for Young, whose 1988 song “This Note's For You” sharply criticized artists who leased their music for advertising campaigns. The accompanying video parodied ads that featured
In the song, Young sang: “Ain't singin' for Pepsi, ain't singin' for Coke. I don't sing for nobody. Makes me look like a joke.”
In the years since, it has become much more common for musicians to earn income through advertising campaigns. But at least through 2016, Young continued to resist having his music used this way, according to
It was unclear whether the Hipgnosis deal augers a change in that policy.
In Wednesday's announcement, Mercuriadis said that his company and Young “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.”
Young has released some 70 albums as a solo artist and with bands like Buffalo Springfield, Crazy Horse and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young.
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