Quick verdict
Hipgnosis Songs Fund is a publicly traded investment vehicle that acquires proven hit catalogs from major artists, with deal sizes typically starting at $1M+. SPACE works with indie creators in ambient, lo-fi, and wellness genres, accepting catalogs worth as little as $2K+. These two buyers serve very different market segments — if you're an indie creator, SPACE is the accessible option.
SPACE
SPACE is a direct music rights buyer that focuses on ambient, lo-fi, meditation, and wellness genres. Built for independent creators, SPACE accepts catalogs at a much lower threshold than institutional buyers and offers a streamlined process from submission to payout. Creators can sell full or partial rights while maintaining creative control over their work.
Strengths
- +Accessible to independent and emerging creators — no massive catalog required
- +Accepts deals starting from approximately $2K in catalog value
- +Specializes in ambient, lo-fi, and wellness music valuation
- +Partial rights sales preserve creator ownership
- +Simple, transparent process without lengthy negotiations
- +Creators retain creative control
Limitations
- −Limited to ambient, lo-fi, and wellness genres
- −Cannot match the scale or deal sizes of institutional funds
- −Less name recognition compared to publicly traded funds
Hipgnosis Songs Fund
Hipgnosis Songs Fund is a London-listed investment company founded in 2018 by Merck Mercuriadis, former manager of artists like Beyoncé and Elton John. The fund has raised over $2 billion to acquire music catalogs from established songwriters and artists. Hipgnosis focuses on proven hit songs with strong streaming performance and sync potential, managing a portfolio of over 65,000 songs including works by some of the most recognized names in popular music.
Strengths
- +Massive investment capital — over $2B deployed in catalog acquisitions
- +Proven track record with major artist acquisitions
- +Active song management and sync licensing to maximize catalog value
- +Publicly traded, providing transparency and regulatory oversight
- +Deep industry relationships and experienced leadership
Limitations
- −Minimum deal sizes typically start at $1M+, excluding most indie creators
- −Focused on mainstream pop, rock, and R&B hit catalogs
- −Lengthy due diligence and negotiation process for acquisitions
- −Not accessible to independent or niche-genre creators
- −Recent market volatility has raised questions about fund valuation strategy
Feature comparison
| Feature | SPACE | Hipgnosis Songs Fund |
|---|---|---|
| Target seller | Independent and emerging creators | Established major artists and hit songwriters |
| Minimum deal size | ~$2K+ catalog value | Typically $1M+ |
| Genre focus | Ambient, lo-fi, meditation, wellness | Mainstream pop, rock, R&B, hip-hop |
| Deal structure | Direct purchase with partial rights options | Full catalog acquisition |
| Payout speed | Days after acceptance | Weeks to months (extensive due diligence) |
| Creative control | Retained by creator | Transferred to Hipgnosis for active management |
| Song management | Creator continues to manage their work | Hipgnosis actively pitches songs for sync, playlists, etc. |
| Valuation approach | Mood-music specialist evaluation | Financial modeling based on historical earnings and projections |
| Company structure | Private company | Publicly traded fund (LSE: SONG) |
| Portfolio scale | Growing niche catalog | 65,000+ songs from major artists |
Our verdict
Hipgnosis and SPACE are not really competitors — they operate in entirely different segments of the music rights market. Hipgnosis is an institutional buyer pursuing multi-million dollar deals with established hitmakers; if you're an indie ambient producer, you're simply not in their addressable market. SPACE exists specifically for the creators that institutional funds overlook: independent artists in the ambient, lo-fi, and wellness space who want to monetize their catalogs without needing a chart-topping track record. If you're a major artist with a proven catalog generating significant royalties, Hipgnosis (or a similar fund) is worth exploring. If you're an independent creator in a niche genre looking for a fast, accessible way to sell some or all of your rights, SPACE is built for you.
Common questions
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