A Flock of Seagulls has landed with BMG, an arrangement that sees the music company acquire the ’80s British band’s publishing catalog and sound recordings.
Announced today, March 12, BMG now controls the band’s publishing rights in the United States and participates in publishing income globally. In addition, the independent music enterprise acquires the worldwide ownership of the sound recordings for A Flock of Seagulls’ classic studio albums — A Flock of Seagulls (1982), Listen (1983), The Story of a Young Heart (1984), and Dream Come True (1986).
Financial terms weren’t disclosed.
Thanks to a run of hits, a style that couldn’t possibly come from this planet, and frontman Mike Score’s unmistakable, impossible hairstyle, A Flock of Seagulls was a torchbearer for the New Wave movement.
For a time in the early-to-mid 1980s, they were one of the outstanding acts of the second “British Invasion.”
“We chose to partner with BMG because we believe in its vision to elevate and extend our music to new audiences and generation,” Score says of the BMG deal. “We are gratified by their passion and commitment to our music and legacy.”
Formed in Liverpool in 1979, the group made the leap into the mainstream with 1982’s “I Ran (So Far Away),” a song that filled the airwaves and dancefloors.
Although the band didn’t set the charts alight in their homeland, they made an notable impact across the Atlantic where “I Ran” cracked the top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100, one of their four hits on the U.S. chart (including three top 40s). The group secured a top 10 appearance on the Official U.K. Singles Chart with 1982’s “Wishing (If I Had a Photograph of You).”
The band’s look and sound continues to resonate in pop culture (Adam Sandler referenced Score’s hair in the 1998 romcom The Wedding Singer). According to music historian the Professor of Rock, the best song of the year 1983 belonged to A Flock of Seagulls, with “Space Age Love Song.”
“A Flock of Seagulls pushed New Wave into widescreen territory, pairing cinematic synths with a bold visual identity that redefined what pop could look and sound like,” remarks Dan Baxter, senior VP, global catalog recordings. “Their expansive, immersive records helped define the MTV era and left a clear imprint on generations of alternative and electronic artists. These recordings still resonate across generations, and we’re proud to bring their ambition and atmosphere to new audiences worldwide.”
A Flock of Seagulls and the individual band members were represented by Peter Csathy of Deep Cuts Media.
