advertisement
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.

advertisement

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.

advertisement

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

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

advertisement
Buffy Sainte-Marie
Matt Barnes
Buffy Sainte-Marie
Music News

Buffy Sainte-Marie Has Her Order of Canada Terminated Following Investigation Into Indigenous Ancestry

The acclaimed singer-songwriter was appointed to the Order of Canada, one of the country's highest honours, in 1997. The termination comes after a CBC investigation in 2023 cast doubt on Sainte-Marie's claims of Indigenous heritage.

Singer-songwriter Buffy Sainte-Marie is no longer appointed to the Order of Canada.

Her appointment to one of the country's highest honours has been terminated by the Governor General, as announced in the Canada Gazette on February 8. The termination Ordinance was signed on January 3.

keep readingShow less
advertisement