Music
Artists who have made millions selling their back catalogs
The list of artists who have sold their publishing rights for big bucks continues to grow.
Over the past few years, several artists have sold their catalogs in big money deals as their music becomes more valuable thanks to the streaming era.
The latest involves Michael Jackson’s estate, which is in talks to sell half of its interests in the singer’s music catalog in a deal said to be in the $800 million - $900 million range.
The package would be the biggest deal to date according to Variety, though several big names have gotten in on the booming business in recent times.
Justin Bieber’s recent sale
Justin Bieber also recently got in on the trend, selling his entire back catalog to Hipgnosis Songs Capital for a rumored fee of $200 million.
The company now owns any song that the 28-year-old singer published before 2021. It means that the company will make royalties every time one of Bieber’s songs is played from his 290-song collection.
“When Justin made the decision to make a catalog deal, we quickly found the best partner to preserve and grow this amazing legacy was Merck and Hipgnosis,” said Bieber’s manager, Scooter Braun. “For 15 years I have been grateful to witness this journey and today I am happy for all those involved. Justin’s greatness is just beginning.”
Dr. Dre
Shamrock Holdings and Universal Music Group recently acquired Dr.Dre’s collection of music income streams and other assets in two separate transactions.
The assets, which generate roughly $10 million annually, were sold for over $200 million. They include artist royalties from two of Dre’s solo albums and his share of N.W.A. artist royalties, his producer royalties, and the writer’s share of his song catalog that he doesn’t own publishing.
Included in UMG’s acquisition would be the master recording of ‘The Chronic’, which is set to revert to Dre from Death Row Entertainment in August of 2023.
Keith Urban
Litmus Music acquired Keith Urban’s master recordings catalog in a deal that includes 10 multi-platinum, platinum or gold-certified studio albums, as well as a greatest hits compilation.
Financial terms of the sale were not made public, but the deal includes future album releases, including one set for 2023.
“I have the deepest respect for Keith, his incredible talent and his passion for making great music,” said Dan McCarroll, co-founder and Chief Creative Officer of Litmus Music. “He’s a musically insatiable musician, record maker, performer and songwriter.”
Huey Lewis and The News
Primary Wave Music announced a partnership with multi-platinum rock act Huey Lewis and the News back in November 2022.
The deal, which was for around $20 million, encompasses all of the band’s commercially released music catalog from inception through to 1994.
Included in the deal are hits ‘Heart of Rock & Roll’, Hip to Be Square’, ‘Workin’ For a Livin’, and ‘The Power of Love’, which was written for ‘Back to the Future’.