Longtime Fleetwood Mac singer and keyboardist Christine McVie has sold her 115-title song catalog to Hipgnosis, the company that has embarked on a $2 billion spending spree acquiring rights to a huge number of popular songs.
McVie, who first joined Fleetwood Mac in 1970 after a successful career in England as a solo artist and member of the blues band Chicken Shack, is the composer of many of the Mac's biggest hits, including “Don’t Stop,” “You Make Loving Fun,” “Over My Head,” “Say You Love Me” and others. Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1998, Fleetwood Mac are one of the most successful music artists in history, with the 1977 album “Rumours” selling more than 45 million copies around the globe, and 1987’s “Tango in the Night,” moving 15 million copies. Their 1975 album "Fleetwood Mac," which introduced Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks to the lineup, has sold over 10 million copies.
McVie is the fourth of the band’s five members to sell her songs in the past nine months, and the second artist to sign a deal with Hipgnosis, after Lindsey Buckingham sold all of his publishing rights to the company in January. Stevie Nicks agreed to a $100 million deal with Primary Wave last year, and drummer-cofounder Mick Fleetwood inked one with BMG in January.
According to the announcement, Hipgnosis has acquired McVie’s worldwide copyright, ownership and financial interest, including writer’s share, of all compositions and neighboring rights. The deal also includes her pre-Fleetwood Mac work with Chicken Shack and her solo material, including songs recorded under her maiden name Christine Perfect.
Hipgnosis has also acquired catalogs from the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Neil Young and several successful songwriter-producers. The amount of McVie's financial windfall was not disclosed.
Photo: Getty Images North America