Bella Figura Eyes U.S. Push With Sony Deal and Hiring of Gary Gersh

Bella Figura Music, a London-based catalog firm with rights to classic hits like Joan Jett’s “I Love Rock ‘n’ Roll,” The Human League’s “Don’t You Want Me” and Hot Chocolate’s “You Sexy Thing,” is making a push into the U.S. market, hiring former Capitol Records exec Gary Gersh and opening an L.A. office.

Founded in 2022 by former BMG U.K. President Alexi Cory-Smith and Neelesh Prabhu, Bella Figura has accumulated a catalog worth more than $160 million — a nearly 50% increase in its portfolio value this year, the firm says. With backing from Freshstream Investment Partners and the Canadian pension fund OPTrust, Cory-Smith says the firm’s expansion plans include deploying another roughly $100 million in the coming year.

To help guide those investments, establish the firm’s reputation in the U.S. and grow the value of its portfolio—which Cory-Smith likens to a Ferrari garage—Bella Figura hired Gersh as chairman and inked a global administration deal with Sony Music Publishing.

“I’ve always used the Ferrari analogy,” Cory-Smith tells Billboard. “They get their hands dirty … constantly going back to fix it and get it better. It’s got to be a champion. Our thing is, is it good? It’s got to be great. The high value, slightly low margin game—that’s not us at all.”

Among the company’s largest acquisitions were the 2024 acquisition of iconic British publisher RAK, which brought in roughly 1,500 copyrights, and the British independent label Jeepster Records, which has the rights to several Belle and Sebastian and Snow Patrol albums. Bella Figura also owns the publishing catalog of songwriter and Robbie Williams collaborator Guy Chambers’, including rights to “Angels,” Feel” and “Let Me Entertain You,” and the master recordings to David Gray’s “Babylon,” because of its acquisition of his IHT record label.

Known for signing Nirvana and Sonic Youth and later running the global live entertainment company of AEG’s touring division, Gersh will be a key adviser in Bella Figura’s U.S. expansion, which he described as careful and precise.

“We’re offering attention to detail, focus, real partnership and opportunity,” Gersh says. “We are picking partners that understand that by doing less better we stay essential. We stay focused.”

Cory-Smith says roughly three-quarters of the firm’s portfolio are publishing copyrights, a “scalable” asset they can maximize returns from by cleaning up metadata and ensuring more efficient registration of songs, using third party tools from Curve and Orpheum. Successful new creative projects have included landing “You Sexy Thing” in a Verizon commercial for the iPhone 17 pro that featured Kevin Hart and plans for special 30th anniversary records for Belle and Sebastian’s If You’re Feeling Sinister.

Cory-Smith and Gersh say their worldwide administration deal with Sony Music Publishing (SMP) opens the door to SMP’s global network, including its industry-leading film, TV and video game sync and licensing resources.

SMP President and Co-managing Director Tim Major said by email that Sony’s global reach makes it a “worthy guardian” for Bella Figura’s works.

“Bella Figura represents iconic and evergreen songs from some of the greatest songwriters we have known–songs that people love and will continue to love for generations to come,” Major said. “[We] are excited to work together … to create new and exciting opportunities and strategies for these songs around the world.”