Hipgnosis Songs Fund said on Wednesday that it has appointed music industry veteran and Round Hill Music co-founder Richard Rowe as executive president with immediate effect.
Rowe began his career at CBS Records in 1979 as a lawyer in its business affairs department before becoming the president of Sony Music Publishing – renamed Sony ATV Music Publishing in 1995 – from 1991 to 2005. Hipgnosis said that while there, Rowe made the deal with Michael Jackson that led to Sony ATV’s acquisition of The Beatles’ catalogue.
He also made the acquisition of Acuff-Rose Music which included the catalogues of Roy Orbison and The Everly Brothers.
Rowe co-founded song buyer Round Hill Music in 2010.
Hipgnosis founder Merck Mercuriadis said: “Richard is one of the most important and successful executives in the music industry. He helped build Sony ATV into the company it is today and played an important role in bringing Round Hill Music Royalty Fund successfully to the market in the wake of Hipgnosis.
“Over his career he has made some incredible deals, including the famous partnership with Michael Jackson bringing The Beatles copyrights to Sony ATV and some of Round Hill Music’s most important catalogues in Carlin Music, Eddie Holland and six songs by The Beatles via the Gil catalogue.”