Business

BMG Takes Full Ownership of Hal David, John Lee Hooker and ARC Music Publishing Catalogs

The deal also brings John Lee Hooker's publishing catalog fully under the BMG umbrella. The company had previously co-acquired the rights alongside Fujipacific from the blues icon's estate in 2022. Hooker's catalog features influential recordings such as "Boom Boom," "Boogie Chillen'," "Dimples" and "One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer," works that helped shape modern blues and rock music.

Elizabeth Weiss July 14, 2026 2 minutes read

Musicbusinessworldwide.com

BMG has expanded its music publishing portfolio by acquiring the remaining ownership interests in the catalogs of legendary songwriter Hal David, blues pioneer John Lee Hooker and the ARC Music publishing catalog, completing a series of long-running transactions.

The acquisition gives BMG full control of all three publishing catalogs, building on partnerships that date back more than a decade. The company first began administering the ARC Music catalog alongside Fuji Music Group in 2010 before purchasing a majority stake in 2016. Fuji Music Group affiliate Fujipacific Music will continue to administer BMG’s catalog throughout Japan and Southeast Asia.

Among the most significant additions is Hal David’s complete publishing catalog. BMG initially acquired a majority interest from David’s family in 2014, two years after the acclaimed lyricist’s death. David’s songwriting partnership with Burt Bacharach produced tracks including “Walk On By,” “I Say a Little Prayer,” “Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on My Head,” “What the World Needs Now Is Love,” “I’ll Never Fall in Love Again” and “Do You Know the Way to San Jose?”

The deal also brings John Lee Hooker’s publishing catalog fully under the BMG umbrella. The company had previously co-acquired the rights alongside Fujipacific from the blues icon’s estate in 2022. Hooker’s catalog features influential recordings such as “Boom Boom,” “Boogie Chillen’,” “Dimples” and “One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer,” works that helped shape modern blues and rock music.

Completing the transaction is ARC Music, the publishing counterpart to Chess Records. Founded in 1948 by brothers Leonard and Phil Chess, the catalog contains compositions associated with artists including Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley, Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf, Etta James and Hooker. Its repertoire includes songs such as “Johnny B. Goode,” “Roll Over Beethoven” and “Surfin’ USA.”

The acquisition continues BMG’s aggressive investment strategy, with the company reporting more than $1.5 billion invested in music rights since 2021.