Bella Figura Music has announced its acquisition of RAK Publishing. An independent publisher and recording studio, RAK was founded in 1969 by record producer Mickie Most and his wife Christina and has been a mainstay in London’s indie scene ever since.
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Its catalog contains shares of over 1,500, including classic songs like “You Sexy Thing” by Hot Chocolate, “Make Me Smile (Come Up And See Me)” by Steve Harley & The Cockney Rebel, “I Love Rock ‘n’ Roll” by Joan Jett and the Blackhearts and “Music” by John Miles, “Kids in America” by Kim Wilde, and more.
Though its only been in business for a few years, London-based music company Bella Figura Music has been growing quickly. Co-founded by former BMG executives Alexi Cory-Smith and Neelesh Prabhu and with financing from private equity fund Freshstream, Bella Figura has acquired a number of top catalogs, primarily from songwriters and producers. This includes Robbie Williams, David Gray, R3HAB, Placebo, The Wombats, Dashboard Confessional, Darrell Brown and more.
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Nathalie Hayes, managing director of RAK Group of Companies says, “My parents started RAK Publishing 55 years ago. I grew up knowing so many of the RAK writers as they were often on holiday with us! It has been an absolute honour to look after such an amazing catalogue for the last 26 years. I am so happy that the Bella Figura Music team are taking the reins as they share the ethos of being boutique and I know that they will take great care of such wonderful songs”
Cory-Smith, Co-Founder & CEO of Bella Figura Music says, “’I’ve been a fan of the RAK catalogue for many years. I have loved these songs and artists since I was a kid. I was mesmerised by Errol Brown when I watched Hot Chocolate on Top of the Pops as a young girl – people don’t appreciate how ground breaking and important a band they were/are; but we have plans for that – and I just wanted to be Kim Wilde – I got suspended from school for cutting off and peroxiding my hair to look like hers (I was about 13), when “Kids in America” came out. RAK is a British Music icon and it’s no exaggeration to say that this deal ranks among the proudest achievements of my career. I pinch myself every day realising Bella Figura is now part of it, and we will work our socks off to look after and promote their amazing legacy.”