Primary Wave – the main independent publishing house in the world specializing in music which in recent days had acquired the rights to the name, image and rights of Pete Townshend – has announced that it has purchased the rights from Aubrey “Po” Powell to the catalog of legendary covers designed and created by the English studio Hipgnosis for artists of the caliber of Bad Company, Styx, Black Sabbath, Queen, Def Leppard, Foreigner, Yes, AC/DC, Genesis and many others.
Hipgnosis – co-founded by Aubey Powell and Storm Thorgerson (died 2013) – revolutionized the idea of artwork, creating unforgettable works, including, Dark Side of the Moon, Atom Heart Mother, Wish You Were Here by Pink Floyd, House of the Holy of Led Zeppelin, Technical Ecstasy of Black Sabbath, but also Dirty Deeds Done Dirty Cheap of AC/DC and Peter Gabriel by Peter Gabriel.
The acquisition, however, will not concern the album covers of Pink Floyd and Led Zeppelin but, for example, some props such as the biplane models used for Point Me at the Sky by Pink Floyd and the original sculptures of the cover of Presence of Led Zeppelin.
Statements from Lexi Todd of Primary Wave: «We are truly thrilled to collaborate with Po on the creation of one of the most influential visual catalogs in the history of music. These illustrations didn't just accompany the records, they shaped the way generations of listeners experienced the music itself. Primary Wave aims to pay homage to that profound connection between sound and image, ensuring that these iconic works continue to inspire music fans around the world.”
Powell's words: «When Primary Wave showed interest in the iconographic legacy of Hipgnosis it was music to my ears. For too long I had been asked to sell scattered pieces from my collection that didn't interest me, and I longed to find a company that understood the importance of the work as a whole and its recognition as a serious art form. I was at a dead end, without the support, connections and teamwork needed to move forward I couldn't expand further. Primary Wave offered me that support and collaboration – we connect and I can't wait to see Hipgnosis grow on the global stage. Exciting times lie ahead.”
The acquisition figures were not disclosed.
