World News
Justin Bieber Sells Music Catalog for $200 Million

JUSTIN BIEBER HAS sold his publishing and recorded music rights to Hipgnosis Songs Capital, marking yet another blockbuster music catalog acquisition.
The deal, announced on Jan. 24, covers Bieber’s entire back catalog — 290 songs released before Dec. 31, 2021. Hipgnosis Songs Capital scooped up Bieber’s publishing copyrights (including his writer’s share), the lucrative rights to his master recordings, and even a more nitty-gritty royalty known as neighboring rights (any time a song is played publicly — like at a coffee shop — “neighboring rights” are paid to the owner of the recording).
Hipgnosis didn’t reveal the exact financial details of the sale, but The Wall Street Journal first reported that the deal was valued at around $200 million last month. Bieber joins a slate of more contemporary high-profile artists such as Justin Timberlake (who also sold to Hipgnosis) and Ryan Tedder in selling their catalogs, but the trend has been much more prevalent among legacy acts, such as Bruce Springsteen and Bob Dylan, whose catalogs are often seen as a safer bet among investors given that they’ve proven themselves over decades and may not lose as much revenue on radio and streaming play.
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Still, with the deal closed, Hipgnosis gets Bieber’s share in some of the biggest hits of a musical era, including “Baby,” “What Do You Mean,” “Sorry,” and “Love Yourself.” With more than 150 million records sold, Bieber is one of the greatest-selling recording artists of all time. The buying boom of the past several years seems to have quieted down in 2022, but an acquisition the size of Bieber’s catalog proves there are still deals to be made in the music acquisition space.
In a statement, Bieber’s longtime manager Scooter Braun said, “When Justin made the decision to make a catalogue deal we quickly found the best partner to preserve and grow this amazing legacy was Merck [Mercuriadis] and Hipgnosis. For over a decade now Justin Bieber has entertained us and moved us with some of the biggest songs in the world. I’m so proud of him and all those involved over the years in helping amass this incredible body of work. Justin is truly a once in a generation artist and that is reflected and acknowledged by the magnitude of this deal.”
Hipgnosis and its founder Merck Mercuriadis closed the deal with Bieber through its $1 billion venture with private investment giant Blackstone. Mercuriadis has been a major figure in the music acquisition trend, offering previously unprecedented deals for songwriter and producer catalogs and eventually making deals with recording artists, including Neil Young and the Red Hot Chili Peppers.
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Mercuriadis added, “The impact of Justin Bieber on global culture over the last 14 years has truly been remarkable. At only 28 years of age, he is one of a handful of defining artists of the streaming era that has revitalized the entire music industry, taking a loyal and worldwide audience with him on a journey from teen phenomenon to culturally important artist. This acquisition ranks among the biggest deals ever made for an artist under the age of 70, such is the power of this incredible catalogue that has almost 82 million monthly listeners and over 30 billion streams on Spotify alone.”
Source: Rollingstone.com
World News
Splash House Announces Dates for 10 Year Anniversary Season

For the last ten years, Splash House has continually redefined the summer festival, fostering a boutique experience in the heart of Palm Springs, ahead of its time music curation, and devout community. In celebration of this milestone, Splash House 2023 returns this summer for its second triple-weekender season June 9-11, August 11-13, and August 18-20.
The event has evolved from a renegade poolside weekender into one of the most in-demand dance music festivals in North America, all the while retaining a distinct sense of style rooted in the culture and allure of Palm Springs. Vast desert landscapes and unique accommodations at the Renaissance, Margaritaville, and Saguaro Hotels converge with fashion-forward audiences and forward-thinking musical bookings to create a new way to experience the travel hotspot.
In turn, Splash House has attracted a new generation of travelers to the desert city, which saw an economic impact of $6.7M per weekend from the three event weekends alone in 2022.
Chairman of PS Resorts Aftab Dada said on Splash House’s decade-long role in driving youth travel in the area, “Splash House is a home grown and incredibly successful music event for the City of Palm Springs and our destination. It has revitalized tourism in our slow summer months and attracted a younger generation. The festival is proof that Palm Springs is a destination for all ages”.
Scott White, President & CEO of Visit Greater Palm Springs added, “Splash House was a game-changer 10 years ago, attracting new visitors to Greater Palm Springs during our Summer months. We are excited about their continued success and the important economic impact this event has on our community”.
It remains the ease and comfort of the Splash House experience that makes it a favorite amongst its dedicated followers. All packages come with festival passes, a three-night stay at any of the three host resorts, and shuttle transportation between venues. Guests can relax in the comfort of a poolside room or catch their favorite artists from the balcony before making their way down to the dance floor.
At night, attendees can experience After Hours programming at the Palm Springs Air Museum while enjoying an open-air dance floor and witnessing artists perform alongside historic aircrafts, all backdropped by the San Jacinto Mountains.
As a barometer for what’s next in electronic music, Splash House has hosted acts like RÜFÜS DU SOL, Flume, and Classixx before they hit the world’s stage, alongside global selectors like The Blessed Madonna, DJ Harvey, Dom Dolla, TOKiMONSTA, Kaytranada, and more.
Presale passes and hotel packages for all three weekends will be available to purchase on Thurs, February 9 at 12PM PT. Those interested can register for the presale now on their site. Check out all pass types and hotel package options on splashhouse.com. Alumni Access returners get first access at hotel packages and passes and can check their status on the website. GA passes start at $165 + fees and hotel packages start at $1,000 + fees. Guests must be 21+ in order to purchase.
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