Merck Mercuriadis' Hipgnosis Songs has acquired a 37.5% interest in the catalogue of Bernard Edwards, the disco trailblazer who co-founded Chic with Nile Rodgers—pictured here with Merck—in 1976.

Edwards notably co-wrote an array of #1 songs for acts including Chic, Sister Sledge ("We Are Family") and Diana Ross ("I'm Coming Out"). The catalogue comprises 290 hits, including Chic staples "Dance, Dance, Dance (Yowsah, Yowsah, Yowsah)," "Everybody Dance" and "Le Freak."

“Bernard and Nile together created one of the most iconic catalogues of all time from 'Le Freak,' which is the biggest selling single in the history of Atlantic Records, to 'Good Times,' which is arguably the most interpolated and sampled song of all time. From 'Everybody Dance' to 'I’m Coming Out' and 'Upside Down' to 'We Are Family,' their songs are classics and, to anyone who knows hits, the brand of Rodgers and Edwards is as meaningful as Rodgers and Hammerstein, Leiber and Stoller, Jagger and Richards or Lennon and McCartney. Importantly, their songs have earned as much from the many songs derived from them, such as the #1 songs 'Rapper’s Delight,' 'Gettin' Jiggy With It' and 'Lady,' as they have from the original works. It's a privilege for Nile and I to now be the custodians to this important piece of their legacy.”

Unfortunately, the photo presented here was cropped and fails at giving Merck's bedazzled bell bottoms the attention they deserve.