Snow Patrol keyboard player Johnny McDaid has sold his 91-song back catalogue to Hipgnosis Songs Fund, the London-listed music investment vehicle.
McDaid’s songs for Snow Patrol, which was formed in Dundee in 1994, and for artists including Ed Sheeran, Pink, Shawn Mendes and Robbie Williams have been streamed more than 20 billion times. Having collaborated with Sheeran since 2013, McDaid co-wrote the most-streamed song of all time, Shape of You , which has been played more than 2.3 billion times.
The sale covers songs written before 1 April 2019, including tracks for Keith Urban, Faith Hill and Tim McGraw, Example, Rudimental, Biffy Clyro and Birdy. McDaid was represented by manager Erik Eger, business manager Kevin McCullough, and lawyer Willie Ryan, with Hipgnosis saying the deal was “spearheaded” by attorney Michael Poster of Michelman & Robinson.
Merck Mercuriadis, founder of Hipgnosis Songs Fund, said: “It’s hard to have some of the biggest songs in the world and yet still be so underrated, but Johnny is one of the most extraordinary creators and his work with Ed and so many others speaks for itself and it’s an honour to welcome him and Erik to the Hipgnosis family.”
Eger added: “Merck’s background as an artist manager enabled him to quickly understand what was important to Johnny in this deal and deliver on it. Johnny and I are encouraged by Merck’s mission of advocating for songwriters and wish him every success in this endeavour.”
