BMG acquires catalogue of songwriting legend Hal David

Sony Music Entertainment’s rights company BMG has acquired the catalogue of late songwriting legend Hal David, reports Music Week.

Best known for tracks like Alfie (recorded by Cher, Cilla Black and Dionne Warwick) What’s New Pussycat (recorded by Tom Jones), Walk On By (recorded by Dionne Warwick) Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head (recorded by B.J. Thomas) and I Say A Little Prayer (recorded by Aretha Franklin and Dionne Warwick), as well as his collaborative work with composer Burt Bacharach, with whom he co-authored his most noted compositions with, David’s publishing rights were passed over by his sons Jim and Craig for an undisclosed amount.

“I am confident BMG is the right home for Hal David’s beloved body of work,” says Jim David. “It is clear the team will work passionately to promote and protect his music while bringing his songs to future generations of new fans.”

In July last year Bacharach signed an exclusive publishing administration deal for North America with Universal Music Publishing Group. The agreement included the classics he and David had written for Warwick, as well as collaborations with UMPG songwriter Carol Bayer Sager and his own Grammy-winning solo material. Upon signing the deal, UMPG said it had plans for a Broadway musical and collaborations with its country acts.

Hal David passed away in September 2012 at age 91 after complications from a stroke. In his lifetime he was awarded numerous Grammy Awards, honoured with the Gershwin Prize for Popular Songs with Bacharach in May 2012, was inducted into the Songwriter’s Hall of Fame, was given a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at age 90 and even watched his songs become re-glorified in films like The Austin Powers series, My Best Friend’s Wedding and There’s Something About Mary.

Laurent Hubert, President of Creative & Marketing at BMG Chrysalis North America says: “The music of Hal David is sewn into the fabric of American culture. His timeless songs have the ability to immediately evoke emotion from music fans and will be appreciated for decades to come. David’s work has left a lasting impact and will continue to be sampled and covered throughout time. We are honored to be entrusted with his catalog and support his legacy going forward.”