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FYI

Canada's Overlooked Global Music Biz Superstar: Merck Mercuriadis

Canada has punched far beyond its weight in producing contemporary superstars who have made a mark on the global music stage with savvy business skills, creative thinking and unique visions. Among them would be impresarios such as Michael Cohl, Live Nation's CEO Mike Rapino and tour promoter Arthur Fogel, along with record producer Bob Ezrin. Add to the list Merck Mercuriadis.

Canada's Overlooked Global Music Biz Superstar: Merck Mercuriadis

By David Farrell

Canada has punched far beyond its weight in producing contemporary superstars who have made a mark on the global music stage with savvy business skills, creative thinking and unique visions. Among them would be impresarios such as Michael Cohl, Live Nation's CEO Mike Rapino and tour promoter Arthur Fogel, along with record producer Bob Ezrin. Add to the list Merck Mercuriadis.


Born in Shefferville, Quebec, turning 55 in October, he is the current CEO, Founder and managing partner of Hipgnosis Music Ltd., an artist management firm, publisher and record label based in London and Los Angeles.

Mercuriadis is also known as the former manager of Beyoncé, Guns N' Roses, Nile Rogers, Iron Maiden, Elton John, Morrissey, Pet Shop Boys, Macy Gray, Mary J. Blige, Joss Stone, and Jane's Addiction.

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Mercuriadis is notable for serving from October 1986 to June 2007, as director and CEO of the Sanctuary Group PLC, a major management company, an independent record label, a merchandise company, and a booking agency based in London, New York and Los Angeles.

He started off in the early ‘80s as an A&R and marketing director at Virgin Records in Canada, leaving to join the management team handling Iron Maiden in the US. His trajectory ever since has been nothing less than astounding.

Last month, his Hipgnosis Songs Fund Limited (HSFL) raised over US$260M to acquire copyrights on the global market.

 Mercuriadis tells MBW that he expects the full amount to have been spent by next spring, after which HSFL will aim to raise another nine-figure sum.

Within three years, Mercuriadis aims to have raised over $1.3B.

You can read more about his current project and how he wants to improve the lot of songwriters and music publishers by increasing the amount they receive from music streaming services.

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And here, read Mercuriadis’ five golden rules for good artist management.

Sources: Wikipedia, Variety, Music Business Worldwide, Hipgnosis Song Fund prospectus

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FYI

Music News Digest: Ontario Folk Music & Reggae North Awards, Adam Gontier Returns to Three Days Grace

Guelph gets a new music venue, Adam Gontier returns to Three Days Grace, The Offspring's Canadian connections and more.

Awards news

The Ontario Folk Music Awards (presented by Folk Music Ontario) were handed out at Mississauga, ON’s Living Arts Centre on October 6. This year’s winners were The Pairs (CMRRA Song of the Year, for "Annie's Daughter"), Good Lovelies (ACTRA RACS Recording Artist of the Year), The Angelique Francis Band (Performing Artist) and Payadora Tango Ensemble featuring Lenka Lichtenberg and Aviva Chernick (Album of the Year for Silent Tears, The Last Yiddish Tango). Two Estelle Klein Awards went to Samir Baijal (Lifetime Achievement) and Pat O’Gorman and Julie Schryer (Community Builder), and Leah Holtom won the Colleen Peterson Award. Hosted by Janice Jo Lee, the event included performances by Sultans of String, The Angelique Francis Band, Adrian Sutherland, Mimi O’Bonsawin, Payadora Tango Ensemble and Jessica Pearson and the East Wind.

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