Popular music loves a trend.
After Bob Dylan shocked the entertainment industry in December by selling his 600-song catalogue to Universal Music for an estimated price of more than $300 million, a parade of seasoned artists have followed suit for rumoured eye-watering figures.
Other big names signing away all, or part, of their publishing rights include singer-songwriters Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham (for both solo and Fleetwood Mac songs), Neil Young, David Crosby, Rod Stewart and music producer Jimmy Iovine.
While the deals are coming in thick and fast, they are not exactly a new trend.
Major pop song acquisitions stem back decades, such as Michael Jackson acquiring The Beatles' catalogue for $47.5 million ($114 million today) in 1985 and US punk group The Offspring selling their work for $35 million in 2016.
That said, there does seem to be an urgency to this moment. So what is going on?
A new way of doing business
As president of the UAE's PopArabia, one of the region's biggest music publishing companies, Hussain "Spek" Yoosuf says all the wheeling and dealing is down to a mixture of good timing and sound business sense.
You need to look at it as form of intellectual real-estate. This is a field that is growing year on year and there are people who see it at it as a safer bet than the housing market
He dismisses the notion that the feverish pace of these deals are solely driven by artists responding to the financial hit caused by the pandemic.
Instead, what is happening now, says the Canadian, is the arrival of a new and exciting investment model and cashed-up investors want in.
Where before it was mostly major music companies purchasing songs' rights, a number of exciting start-ups are beginning to give them a run for their money.
For example, take UK company Hipgnosis Song Fund, which acquired the Iovine song catalogue alongside the likes of Enrique Iglesias, Mark Ronson, 50 Cent, Chrissie Hynde and Barry Manilow.
When launched in 2018 it had $807 million through an Initial Public Offering. The company is now reportedly valued at $1.7 billion and owns the rights to more than 58,000 songs
"You need to look at it as form of intellectual real-estate," Spek tells The National.
"This is a field that is growing year on year and there are people with large amounts of money to invest who see it as a safer bet than the housing market."
Cashing out when you are on top
But these are songs. You can’t touch, hold or even look at them. How can they be potentially worth more than property or gold?
"Because it is highly consistent,” Spek says. "Just listen to the radio, it is always going to play hit songs no matter what is happening in the world. So from an investor's perspective, you have something that is consistent and insulated from the adverse effects of the economic climates of the time.”
Major artists have also become aware of the potential gold mine in their possession.
With a sizeable number of the major deals signed by those with major and hefty catalogues, Spek views their decision to cash out as a way to begin a new phase of their lives.
"What you are seeing is older artists, who are perhaps past their commercial prime and getting to retirement age, wanting to do something new with that they built," he says. “This happens a lot in the business world and is comparable to an entrepreneur who turns 50 or 60 and then decides to sell their company.”
Will we ever see a big deal in the Middle East?
While Spek predicts this field will only grow in the future in major markets in the West, the potential of such a cash splash hitting the Arab world is uncertain.
The day where a big regional pop star, such as Egyptian pop king Amr Diab or Lebanese diva Nancy Ajram, inks such a deal remains a distant future.
This is down to the regional music industry still finding its feet when it comes to legislating copyright laws and the recent arrival of streaming services to the Arab world.
"Bob Dylan benefited from an existing music infrastructure in the US since he began his career in the 1960s. He was able to build his career, earning royalties every year," Spek says.
"It is fairly new in the Middle East to take copyright and publishing seriously and most streaming services only arrived here in 2018. So we still have some way to go where music publishing income here will become ubiquitous, but that is something we intend to change."
Other simple ideas for sushi rice dishes
Cheat’s nigiri
This is easier to make than sushi rolls. With damp hands, form the cooled rice into small tablet shapes. Place slices of fresh, raw salmon, mackerel or trout (or smoked salmon) lightly touched with wasabi, then press, wasabi side-down, onto the rice. Serve with soy sauce and pickled ginger.
Easy omurice
This fusion dish combines Asian fried rice with a western omelette. To make, fry cooked and cooled sushi rice with chopped vegetables such as carrot and onion and lashings of sweet-tangy ketchup, then wrap in a soft egg omelette.
Deconstructed sushi salad platter
This makes a great, fuss-free sharing meal. Arrange sushi rice on a platter or board, then fill the space with all your favourite sushi ingredients (edamame beans, cooked prawns or tuna, tempura veggies, pickled ginger and chilli tofu), with a dressing or dipping sauce on the side.
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Some of Darwish's last words
"They see their tomorrows slipping out of their reach. And though it seems to them that everything outside this reality is heaven, yet they do not want to go to that heaven. They stay, because they are afflicted with hope." - Mahmoud Darwish, to attendees of the Palestine Festival of Literature, 2008
His life in brief: Born in a village near Galilee, he lived in exile for most of his life and started writing poetry after high school. He was arrested several times by Israel for what were deemed to be inciteful poems. Most of his work focused on the love and yearning for his homeland, and he was regarded the Palestinian poet of resistance. Over the course of his life, he published more than 30 poetry collections and books of prose, with his work translated into more than 20 languages. Many of his poems were set to music by Arab composers, most significantly Marcel Khalife. Darwish died on August 9, 2008 after undergoing heart surgery in the United States. He was later buried in Ramallah where a shrine was erected in his honour.
VERSTAPPEN'S FIRSTS
Youngest F1 driver (17 years 3 days Japan 2014)
Youngest driver to start an F1 race (17 years 166 days – Australia 2015)
Youngest F1 driver to score points (17 years 180 days - Malaysia 2015)
Youngest driver to lead an F1 race (18 years 228 days – Spain 2016)
Youngest driver to set an F1 fastest lap (19 years 44 days – Brazil 2016)
Youngest on F1 podium finish (18 years 228 days – Spain 2016)
Youngest F1 winner (18 years 228 days – Spain 2016)
Youngest multiple F1 race winner (Mexico 2017/18)
Youngest F1 driver to win the same race (Mexico 2017/18)
Scoreline
Abu Dhabi Harlequins 17
Jebel Ali Dragons 20
Harlequins Tries: Kinivilliame, Stevenson; Cons: Stevenson 2; Pen: Stevenson
Dragons Tries: Naisau, Fourie; Cons: Love 2; Pens: Love 2
If you go
The flights
Emirates flies from Dubai to Funchal via Lisbon, with a connecting flight with Air Portugal. Economy class returns cost from Dh3,845 return including taxes.
The trip
The WalkMe app can be downloaded from the usual sources. If you don’t fancy doing the trip yourself, then Explore offers an eight-day levada trails tour from Dh3,050, not including flights.
The hotel
There isn’t another hotel anywhere in Madeira that matches the history and luxury of the Belmond Reid's Palace in Funchal. Doubles from Dh1,400 per night including taxes.
The Light of the Moon
Director: Jessica M Thompson
Starring: Stephanie Beatriz, Michael Stahl-David
Three stars
Three tips from La Perle's performers
1 The kind of water athletes drink is important. Gwilym Hooson, a 28-year-old British performer who is currently recovering from knee surgery, found that out when the company was still in Studio City, training for 12 hours a day. “The physio team was like: ‘Why is everyone getting cramps?’ And then they realised we had to add salt and sugar to the water,” he says.
2 A little chocolate is a good thing. “It’s emergency energy,” says Craig Paul Smith, La Perle’s head coach and former Cirque du Soleil performer, gesturing to an almost-empty open box of mini chocolate bars on his desk backstage.
3 Take chances, says Young, who has worked all over the world, including most recently at Dragone’s show in China. “Every time we go out of our comfort zone, we learn a lot about ourselves,” she says.
Company%20Profile
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ELIO
Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Brad Garrett
Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina
Rating: 4/5
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg
Bayern Munich v Real Madrid
When: April 25, 10.45pm kick-off (UAE)
Where: Allianz Arena, Munich
Live: BeIN Sports HD
Second leg: May 1, Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid
if you go
The flights
Emirates offer flights to Buenos Aires from Dubai, via Rio De Janeiro from around Dh6,300. emirates.com
Seeing the games
Tangol sell experiences across South America and generally have good access to tickets for most of the big teams in Buenos Aires: Boca Juniors, River Plate, and Independiente. Prices from Dh550 and include pick up and drop off from your hotel in the city. tangol.com
Staying there
Tangol will pick up tourists from any hotel in Buenos Aires, but after the intensity of the game, the Faena makes for tranquil, upmarket accommodation. Doubles from Dh1,110. faena.com
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg
Bayern Munich 1
Kimmich (27')
Real Madrid 2
Marcelo (43'), Asensio (56')
SPEC%20SHEET%3A%20APPLE%20IPHONE%2014%20PRO%20MAX
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Afro%20salons
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Royal wedding inspired menu
Ginger, citrus and orange blossom iced tea
Avocado ranch dip with crudites
Cucumber, smoked salmon and cream cheese mini club sandwiches
Elderflower and lemon syllabub meringue
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Our legal consultant
Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Duterte Harry: Fire and Fury in the Philippines
Jonathan Miller, Scribe Publications
The specs
Engine 60kwh FWD
Battery Rimac 120kwh Lithium Nickel Manganese Cobalt Oxide (LiNiMnCoO2) chemistry
Power 204hp Torque 360Nm
Price, base / as tested Dh174,500
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%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirectors%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EVarious%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Nicola%20Coughlan%2C%20Luke%20Newton%2C%20Jonathan%20Bailey%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E3%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Infiniti QX80 specs
Engine: twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6
Power: 450hp
Torque: 700Nm
Price: From Dh450,000, Autograph model from Dh510,000
Available: Now
Defence review at a glance
• Increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027 but given “turbulent times it may be necessary to go faster”
• Prioritise a shift towards working with AI and autonomous systems
• Invest in the resilience of military space systems.
• Number of active reserves should be increased by 20%
• More F-35 fighter jets required in the next decade
• New “hybrid Navy” with AUKUS submarines and autonomous vessels
The five pillars of Islam