BMG has acquired the remaining interests in three music publishing catalogs from Fuji Music Group and its affiliates, including Fujipacific Music, announced on July 13, 2026. The deal covers the songs of lyricist Hal David, blues artist John Lee Hooker and ARC Music. Financial terms were not disclosed.
What changes hands
BMG already held interests in all three catalogs, and this deal takes it to full ownership of the publishing rights. BMG bought the Hal David catalog from his family in 2014, two years after his death. It co-acquired John Lee Hooker's rights with Fujipacific from Hooker's estate in 2022. For ARC Music, BMG began administering the catalog with Fuji Music Group in 2010 and took a majority stake in 2016.
The catalog
- Hal David: Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head, Walk On By, What The World Needs Now Is Love, I Say A Little Prayer and Do You Know The Way To San Jose?
- John Lee Hooker: Boom Boom, One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer, Dimples and Boogie Chillen'.
- ARC Music: founded in 1948 by Leonard and Phil Chess, with songs made famous by Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley, Howlin' Wolf, Muddy Waters and Etta James, including Johnny B. Goode, Roll Over Beethoven and Surfin' USA.
Why it matters
BMG says it has invested more than $1.5 billion in music rights since 2021 through its Boost program, and in April 2026 it confirmed a merger with Concord that the companies expect to close in the second half of 2026. Consolidating full ownership of core legacy catalogs fits a buyer that is scaling up and simplifying its holdings.
For rightsholders, the deal is a reminder that partial stakes are often a first step. Co-owners and administrators are natural buyers for the rest of a catalog, because they already know its income history and have no integration cost. Anyone holding a minority share next to a major publisher should expect that partner to be the most likely, and often most motivated, bidder when the time comes to sell.