Bella Figura Music acquires RAK Publishing

Bella Figura Music has announced the acquisition of RAK Publishing. An independent publisher and recording studio, RAK was founded in 1969 by record producer Mickey Most and his wife Christina and has been a mainstay in London's indie scene ever since.

His catalog contains over 1,500 hits, including classics such as Hot Chocolate's 'You Sexy Thing', Steve Harley & The Cockney Rebel's 'Make Me Smile (Come Up And See Me)', 'I Love Rock 'n 'Roll' by Joan Jett and the Blackhearts and 'Music' by John Miles, 'Kids in America' by Kim Wilde and more.

Although only in business for a few years, London-based music label Bella Figura Music is growing fast. Co-founded by former BMG executives Alexi Cory-Smith and Neelesh Prabhu and with funding from private equity fund Freshstream, Bella Figura has acquired a number of top catalogues, mainly from songwriters and producers. This includes Robbie Williams, David Gray, R3HAB, Placebo, The Wombats, Dashboard Confessional, Darrell Brown and many more.

Nathalie Hayes, the managing director of the 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 honor to look after such an amazing catalog for the past 26 years. I am so happy that the Bella Figura Music team is taking over as they share the boutique ethos and I know they will take great care of such great songs.”

Corey-Smith, Co-Founder and CEO of Bella Figura Music says, “I have been a fan of the RAK catalog for many years. I have loved these songs and artists since I was a kid. I was fascinated by Errol Brown when I was watching Hot Chocolate on Top of the Pops as a young girl – people don't appreciate how groundbreaking and important a band they were/are. but we have plans for it – and I just wanted to be Kim Wilde – I got kicked out of school for cutting and peroxidizing my hair to look like hers (I was about 13) when 'Kids in America' came out. RAK is an icon of British Music and it is no exaggeration to say that this deal is one of the proudest achievements of my career. I pinch myself every day realizing that Bella Figura is now a part of her and we will work our socks off to care for and promote their amazing legacy.”