Back in ‘Acquisition Mode,’ Round Hill Announces ‘Flurry’ of Catalog Investments — Stakes in ‘Physical,’ ‘I Love It,’ and More

A live performance from Dirty Heads, which has sold “publishing and artist royalties” to Round Hill Music. Photo Credit: Constantino14

Back in “acquisition mode,” Round Hill Music has scooped up “a range of different rights and income streams,” among them interests in Rod Stewart’s “Da Ya Think I’m Sexy?” and Icona Pop’s “I Love It.”

Round Hill reached out with word of the plays today. Beginning on the compositional side, the UK-based IP investor now owns the publishing catalogs of Terry Shaddick, Linus Eklöw, and Carmine Appice.

Shaddick co-wrote Olivia Newton-John’s “Physical” (1981), which Doja Cat interpolated in “Kiss Me More.” Besides having a credit on the latter, Shaddick is billed as a songwriter on Benson Boone’s even more recent “Mystical Magical,” which also incorporated “Physical.”

Next, Swedish DJ Linus Eklöw, better known as Style of Eye, has sold his “full catalog of songs” to Round Hill. That pile of IP extends to Icona Pop’s “I Love It” as well as much-streamed dance efforts like Galantis’ “Runaway (U & I)” and “No Money,” the buyer indicated. (Eklöw was at one time a member of Galantis.)

Lastly, in terms of complete-catalog pick-ups, King Kobra and Vanilla Fudge vet Carmine Appice has drummed on a variety of commercially prominent releases.

And his work with Rod Stewart (on 1977’s Foot Loose & Fancy Free, ‘78’s Blondes Have More Fun, ‘80’s Foolish Behaviour, and ‘81’s Tonight I’m Yours) includes writing contributions to “Da Ya Think I’m Sexy?” as well as “Young Turks,” to name a couple.

Reggae rock group Dirty Heads, for its part, has cashed in on “publishing and artist royalties.” All told, the group behind “Vacation” has released eight studio albums since arriving on the scene decades back.

Finally, Scotland-born Al Stewart, most widely recognized for 1976’s “Year of the Cat,” has sold “a selection of…master rights” to Round Hill, which is managing five private funds at present.

While Round Hill didn’t come right out and disclose the transactions’ price-tag particulars, it did note that the deals boosted its portfolio’s cumulative value back past the $1 billion mark.

And in a statement, CEO Josh Gruss touted the involved IP’s perceived “potential for further monetization.”

“From timeless pop hits to reggae rock, yacht rock and electronic music, these catalogs contain songs with proven commercial success,” Gruss said in part.

“Spanning different genres and eras, these songs have huge potential for further monetization across streaming, film, advertising and much more. … Tracks like ‘Physical’ go to the very heart of Round Hill’s strategy – finding and celebrating songs which can continue to resonate with new generations long after their original release,” he proceeded.

View the full article