Hipgnosis Songs Fund has announced that it has acquired the music catalogue of Chrissie Hynde, founding member, lead vocalist and primary song writer of The Pretenders. Hipgnosis has acquired 100% of Chrissie’s music publishing catalogue of 164 songs including the publishing and writer’s share (PRS) from the Pretenders and her other projects.
About Chrissie Hynde
Hipgnosis says that Chrissie Hynde is widely regarded as one of the most important, influential and iconic singer songwriters of all time. With The Pretenders, Chrissie Hynde wrote a catalogue of hit songs that remain popular and continue to be covered by new artists to this day. This includes songs as ‘Brass in Pocket’, ‘Talk of the Town’, ‘Message of Love’, ‘Back on the Chain Gang’, ‘Middle of the Road’, ‘2000 Miles’, ‘Don’t Get Me Wrong’, ‘My Baby’ and ‘I’ll Stand By You’.
Chrissie Hynde continues to tour globally with The Pretenders. Whilst their tour schedule for May 2020 has been postponed due to COVID-19 certain dates have been rescheduled to September 2021.
About The Pretenders
Forming in 1978, The Pretenders quickly achieved commercial and critical success with their self-titled debut album reaching Number 1 of the UK Albums Chart the week of its release. Hipgnosis says that the album is widely regarded as one of the greatest debut albums of all time and has achieved commercial success in both the UK, reaching Number 1 for four consecutive weeks, and the US where it is certified platinum. The album included the single ‘Brass in Pocket’ which was The Pretenders first UK Number 1 single in 1980.
The Pretenders have in total released 11 albums including, the just released, ‘Hate For Sale’. After the success of their debut, a further four of their albums have achieved platinum or gold certification including ‘Pretenders II’, which reached the Top 10 in both the UK and US albums chart; ‘Learning to Crawl’, which included the hit lead single ‘2000 Miles’ and ‘Middle Of The Road’; ‘Get Close’ which included two US Number 1 Mainstream Rock singles with ‘Don’t Get Me Wrong’ and ‘My Baby’; and ‘Last Of The Independents’ which included the group’s most streamed single ‘I’ll Stand By You’.
Chrissie Hynde wrote the following highliy influential songs for The Pretenders:
‘Brass in Pocket’ which was the band’s first UK Number 1 in 1980 and has been streamed over 200 million times.
‘Back on the Chain Gang’, which has been streamed over 150 million times and was The Pretender’s biggest US hit reaching Number 5 on the Billboard Hot 100 and Number 4 on Billboard’s Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks chart. The Song was covered by legendary British singer songwriter Morrissey in 2008 calling the song “a pop classic, of the brain as well as the loins”.
‘Don’t Get Me Wrong’, which has been streamed over 150 million times and was the group’s second Top 10 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 as well as reaching Number 1 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock charts. The song was also a UK Top 10 hit in the singles chart.
Their hit Christmas Song ‘2000 Miles’ which has been streamed over 100 million times.
‘I’ll Stand by You’ which reached the Top 20 in several countries and has been streamed over 250 million times. ‘I’ll Stand By You’ re-entered the charts with Girls Aloud in 2004, reaching Number 1 in the UK, and with American country singer Carrie Underwood, reaching Number 6 of the Billboard Hot 100.
[QD comment: In common with its style, the announcement that accompanies Hipgnosis’ latest purchase provides a very glowing summary for Chrissie Hynde. While this may be a little OTT for some, this acquisition is undoubtedly a major coup for Hipgnosis and The Family Music and it’s no surprise that they are very pleased].