Merck Mercuriadis, the founder and former CEO of Hipgnosis who recently launched a new venture called Hipgnosis Artist Partnerships, is slated to deliver the keynote at the 2026 Music Tectonics conference, it was announced on Wednesday (July 29). Mercuriadis will speak on Oct. 28 at the Santa Monica, Calif., gathering, which is set to run from Oct. 27-29.
Mercuriadis is widely recognized for his role in popularizing music as an asset class after founding catalog investment group Hipgnosis. The group spanned a suite of companies including two catalog acquisition funds (a public fund, Hipgnosis Songs Fund, and the privately held Hipgnosis Songs Assets, backed by Blackstone) and an investment manager (Hipgnosis Songs Management). It was renamed Recognition Music Group in 2024, shortly after Blackstone acquired its public fund. Earlier that same year, Mercuriadis stepped down as CEO of the investment manager and was succeeded by Ben Katovsky.
Hipgnosis Artist Partnerships, effectively a revamp of the earlier Hipgnosis, was launched by Mercuriadis last year.
“This year, we want to rally everyone from top label execs to publishers to artist managers to artists and founders around a single theme, how we can work together to create a rising tide that lifts all boats,” said Dmitri Vietze, founder of Music Tectonics, in a statement. “Merck knows what can grow music and grow value. He pulls no punches when it comes to amplifying truths that push us all past industry blinders. I’m prepared to be surprised by what he presents. And a little afraid. But in a good way.”
Added Mercuriadis, “The last decade has transformed the fortunes of the music industry through systemic change in how people consume music as streaming grew from 30 million to over 800 million paid subscribers globally. The next decade will further transform the fortunes of artists, songwriters, producers and managers, without whom there is no music industry, through what will be the most significant value shift ever.”
As it does every year, Music Tectonics 2026 will include a series of panels on the intersection of music and tech, including:
— Investor Confidential: Where the Money’s Moving in Music Tech
— Activating Artists in the Biggest Social Games on the Planet
— What if AI Grows the TAM? A New Licensing & Royalty Paradigm
— Music Is Worth More: Tech That Multiplies Revenue, Not Disrupts It
— Startup Hotbox: Labels React to Music Tech Startups
— Making AI Work for Artists, Labels, and Publishers
Early-bird pricing on Music Tectonics tickets is available from now until Aug. 11. They can be purchased here.
