Seeker Music recently closed a huge securitisation deal with M&G Investments worth $267 million to fuel catalogue acquisitions.
The music rights, publishing and record company has now confirmed a major acquisition including a share in legendary Scottish band Cocteau Twins’ catalogue.
Seeker Music has acquired the music publishing catalogue of songwriter, producer, bassist, and keyboardist Simon Raymonde. The deal includes his full body of work as a member of Cocteau Twins.
“One of the most influential architects of dream-pop and alternative music, Raymonde’s catalogue has helped shape generations of artists and continues to resonate across culture today,” said a Seeker Music statement.
Raymonde joined Cocteau Twins in 1983, and quickly established himself as a core songwriter in the band throughout its tenure across iconic albums such as Treasure, Blue Bell Knoll and Heaven Or Las Vegas. His work helped define the group’s signature, atmospheric sound.
“Cocteau Twins’ influence can be heard across decades of indie, electronic, and pop music, with their songs continuing to find new audiences through streaming, film/TV, and modern reinterpretations, including The Weeknd’s The Knowing, which samples the band’s beloved Cherry-Coloured Funk,” continued the statement.
Beyond his work with Cocteau Twins, Raymonde is also a solo artist and music industry executive who co-founded and leads the UK indie label Bella Union (Beach House, Father John Misty, The Flaming Lips, Mercury Rev, Xiu Xiu, etc). He has served as vice-chairman of AIM, received the Ivors Academy’s Visionary Award alongside his Cocteau Twins bandmates, and has produced and mixed albums of other artists like Clearlake, The Czars, Billy Mackenzie and Fionn Regan.
“The deal with Raymonde gets at two major tenets of Seeker Music’s strategy: their focus on timeless music with potential to reach new fans in new ways, and their continued expansion into the UK and international markets,” said the company in its announcement.
The enthusiasm for our music appears to be strong 30 years after our last studio album. Maybe stronger than ever!
Simon Raymonde
Led by CEO and songwriter Evan Bogart (Beyoncé’s Halo, Rihanna’s SOS), Seeker has acquired catalogues from Christopher Cross, Joan Jett, Charlotte Caffey of The Go-Gos, Run the Jewels, The Wombats, Mark Morrison, Future Cut (Lily Allen), Plested (Lewis Capaldi) and RuthAnne Cunningham.
Plans are already in the works for multiple different global activations over the next 24 months with Simon Raymonde’s music.
Seeker Music chief creative officer Steven Melrose said: “Growing up as a little boy just across the water in Edinburgh, Scotland, these songs have always provided the soundtrack to my life. Between the wonderful melodies and Liz Fraser’s incredible vocals, there’s nothing else like the music Simon has made and contributed to. When the chance to work with him presented itself, well, there’s never been a quicker yes … it’s an honour.”
“Between the generational impact Simon already holds, and the global creative marketing we do at Seeker, we believe this new partnership makes the perfect pairing to further reverberate Simon’s musical influence the world over,” Melrose added.
Simon Raymonde said: “The enthusiasm for our music appears to be strong 30 years after our last studio album. Maybe stronger than ever, I’m not sure! Seeker Music have shown that passion and excitement since we began talking last year. Hopefully the relationship with them grows alongside the work we are doing with 4AD to keep our fans happy! I’m sure all the fans want is for us to play shows and make new music. While that still seems a long way off, there’s a lot to be done with the music we have left behind.”
Simon Raymonde was represented in the transaction by Christy McNaughtan at NMD Solicitors. Seeker Music was represented by Henry Root for Counsel LLP and Seeker’s general counsel Dan Stuart, along with Melrose and Bogart.
PHOTO: (L-R) Seeker Music CCO Steven Melrose and Simon Raymonde
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