BMG Completes Full Ownership of Hal David, John Lee Hooker and ARC Music Catalogs
BMG Rights Management announced on Monday that it has acquired the remaining interests in the publishing catalogs of lyricist Hal David, blues legend John Lee Hooker and the Chess‑Records publishing unit ARC Music. The transaction gives BMG full ownership of the three catalogs, which together contain more than 1,200 songs that have shaped American popular music.
The deal was first announced in 2016 when BMG bought a majority stake in ARC Music from Fuji Music Group. BMG had been administering the catalog since 2010 and, in 2022, co‑acquired Hooker’s estate catalog with Fuji. The July 13 agreement completes the earlier transaction and brings the remaining minority interest in the Hal David catalog under BMG.
According to the company, the Hal David catalog includes songs such as “Raindrops Keep Fallin’ On My Head,” “Walk On By,” and “What The World Needs Now Is Love.” The John Lee Hooker catalog contains classics like “Boom Boom,” “One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer,” and “Boogie Chillen’.” ARC Music, founded in 1948 by Leonard and Phil Chess, is the publishing arm of Chess Records and includes songs by Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley, Howlin’ Wolf, Muddy Waters, Etta James and others.
BMG’s EVP for North America, Monti Olson, said the catalogs are “cornerstones of modern music” and that completing ownership will “ensure these songs continue to be protected and introduced to new audiences for generations to come.” The company has invested more than $1.5 billion in music‑rights acquisitions since 2021 through its Boost program.
The acquisition is part of a broader trend of consolidation in music publishing. BMG, which is 100 % owned by Bertelsmann, has been expanding its catalog through strategic purchases and co‑ownerships. The full ownership of these three catalogs strengthens BMG’s position as a major publisher of legacy and contemporary works.
The deal also has implications for licensing and synchronization. Songs from the Hal David and Hooker catalogs have long been used in film, television and advertising, and the new ownership will streamline rights clearance for future projects. ARC Music’s extensive catalog of blues, rock and folk songs is also a valuable resource for media producers seeking authentic period‑era material.
Industry observers note that the acquisition gives BMG a more complete control over the licensing of songs that have been widely sampled and covered. For example, Hooker’s “Boom Boom” has been sampled in hip‑hop and electronic tracks, while David’s “I’ll Never Fall In Love Again” has been covered by numerous pop artists.
BMG’s move follows a series of other high‑profile publishing deals announced earlier this year, including a new global recordings agreement with Michelle Branch and a joint venture with Reservoir Media to acquire the catalog of Latin‑music label Nacional Records. These transactions illustrate the continued demand for legacy catalogs that can generate revenue through streaming, licensing and new recordings.
The full ownership of the Hal David, Hooker and ARC Music catalogs is effective immediately. BMG will continue to administer the catalogs and manage licensing, publishing administration and royalty collection for the artists and estates represented.
The acquisition is the latest in a decade of BMG’s expansion of its publishing portfolio and reflects the company’s strategy of acquiring high‑value catalogs that have a proven track record of generating revenue across multiple platforms.
The deal is expected to be fully integrated into BMG’s existing publishing operations by the end of the year, with no immediate changes announced for the artists or estates represented in the catalogs.
The acquisition underscores the importance of legacy catalogs in the modern music economy, where streaming royalties, synchronization fees and re‑recording projects continue to provide steady income streams for rights holders.
