Primary Wave Acquires Hipgnosis Artwork Archive
Primary Wave Music has acquired Aubrey “Po” Powell’s interests in the complete Hipgnosis archive of album artwork.
Hipgnosis, a British design studio established in 1967 by Powell and Storm Thorgerson, created notable album covers for artists including Bad Company, Pink Floyd, Styx, Black Sabbath, Queen, Def Leppard, Foreigner, and AC/DC.
The acquisition encompasses items utilized in the creation of Hipgnosis artwork, such as the original model biplanes featured in Pink Floyd’s “Point Me to the Sky” music video.
Primary Wave will work with Powell on worldwide exhibitions of the Hipgnosis catalog, featuring previously unreleased works.
The music rights and investment company Hipgnosis is led by Merck Mercuriadis. Prior to his death in 2013, Storm Thorgerson authorized Mercuriadis to use the Hipgnosis name for his company.
Lexi Todd, Deputy COO of Primary Wave, stated: “We’re beyond excited to partner with Po on one of the most influential visual catalogs in music history. This artwork did more than just accompany records; it shaped how generations of audiences experienced the music itself. Investment Partnerships in Music Catalogues Primary Wave looks forward to honoring that deep connection between sound and image by ensuring these iconic works continue to inspire music fans around the world.”
