Harry Nilsson song rights sold to BMG in latest catalog deal

American singer-songwriter Harry Nilsson, whose song catalog is among the latest to be acquired. He got rich penning hits including “One,” performed by Three Dog Night, released successful 1970s albums with “Nilsson Schmilsson” and “Son of Schmilsson,” won a couple Grammys and composed for films including Robert Altman’s “Popeye.” But heavy drinking and smoking contributed to a downturn in his health, and he died of a heart attack in 1994 at age 52. BMG, owned by the Gütersloh-based media conglomerate Bertelsmann, has acquired Nilsson’s song publishing catalog, along with artist and writer revenue streams, in a deal with the singer’s estate, the company told The Times this week. His oft-covered one-chord ditty “Coconut” played over the closing credits of Quentin Tarantino’s “Reservoir Dogs,” and the tune “Gotta Get Up” played repeatedly in Netflix’s hit “Russian Doll.” Drinking buddies known as “The Hollywood Vampires,” from left: John Lennon, Harry Nilsson, Alice Cooper and Micky Dolenz celebrate an early Thanksgiving with singer Anne Murray at the Troubadour on Nov. 21, 1973, in Los Angeles. “I think it’s very important to understand how artists really have staying power if they’re able to diversify their offering to their audiences and don’t get stuck in a very small formula.” Nilsson’s is among the latest in a series of catalog acquisitions for BMG as music companies gobble up legacy artists’ song rights to take advantage of the boom in consumption of older music on streaming.