The 1979 funk track that inspired a recent Mark Ronson/Bruno Mars hit and led to Michelle Obama showing off some of her finest dance moves has a new home.
“Oops Upside Your Head,” which saw The Gap Band eventually receive co-writing credits on “Uptown Funk,” is part of the catalog owned by London-based publisher Minder Music. BMG, which calls itself a “new model music company” and is part of German media giant Bertelsmann, said Wednesday it has acquired Minder and its catalog, although it wouldn’t disclose financial details.
The deal sees BMG take control of what the company claims is one of the most sampled music catalogs in history, including The Gap Band’s 1982 R&B smash “Outstanding,” used by the likes of Madonna, Kylie Minogue, Usher, R. Kelly, Blackstreet and Tina Turner, plus songs by The Fatback Band, Jimmy Caster, Chaka Chan, Ace and Yarbrough & People.
Other artists to have sampled Minder copyrights include Snoop Dogg, P. Diddy, Nas, The Spice Girls, All Saints, Dr Dre, Groove Armada, Snap, George Michael, Christina Aguilera — and even kid’s TV character Bob The Builder.
