The Thriving Market for Music Catalogue Sales

Biggest Recent Back Catalogue Acquisitions

The music industry is currently experiencing a booming trend in music catalog sales, with top artists selling their catalogues for massive amounts of money. In recent years, artists such as Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan, Stevie Nicks, Shakira, and Justin Bieber have made headlines with major deals worth hundreds of millions of dollars.

Table of Contents

This trend is similar to the recent surge in Hollywood, where studios and production companies are being sold for high valuations due to the growing appetite for content. The influx of money into both the music and entertainment industries is largely attributed to private equity firms with deep pockets that have emerged after the pandemic’s market surge.

Despite initial predictions of a slowdown in music catalogue sales, the trend continues to grow with two major deals already announced in 2023. The demand for music catalogues is expected to remain high, with many investors viewing them as a valuable asset due to their potential for generating long-term passive income.

Variety Intelligence Platform is closely monitoring the music catalogue deal action and will update their chart with any new announcements. It is clear that the market for music catalogues is thriving, and investors and artists alike are capitalizing on the opportunity to cash in on the value of their music catalogues.

In 2021 Tina Turner sold the rights to her music catalogue spanning six decades, including hits such as What’s Love Got to Do With It, The Best and Nutbush City Limits estimated to be worth over $50m.

Who has cashed out and for how much? Here’s a running list that I’m updating as new deals are announced.

Bob Dylan (100% of his publishing catalogue to Universal Music Publishing) est. US$300-400 million. Sony acquired his master recordings. That’s worth another ~US$200 million.

Midge Ure songs acquired by music rights investment company Music Bird
Neil Young (50% of his career catalogue to Hipgnosis), est. US$150 million
Stevie Nicks (a majority stake in her songs to Primary Wave), US$100 million
Imagine Dragons (everything they’ve done up until now), US$100 million
Whitney Houston (her entire catalogue to Primary Wave), price undisclosed.
David Crosby (everything he’s done to Hipgnosis), price undisclosed.
Disturbed (entire catalogue to Primary Wave), price undisclosed
The Killers (all releases up until 2020 to Eldridge Industries), price undisclosed
Lindsey Buckingham (his Fleetwood Mac songs along with his solo material), price undisclosed
Barry Manilow (entire catalogue to Hipgnosis), price undisclosed
Richie Sambora (everything he did with Bon Jovi to Hipgnosis), price undisclosed
Dave Stewart (everything he’s done with Eurthymics and beyond to Hipgnosis), price undisclosed
Blondie (197 songs to Hipgnosis), price undisclosed
Chrissie Hynde (everything she did with The Pretenders to Hipgnosis), price undisclosed
Air Supply (a portion of their catalogue to Primary Wave), price undisclosed
Culture Club (a portion of the band’s publishing and master recording income to Primary Wave), price undisclosed
Devo (a chunk of their catalogue to Primary Wave), price undisclosed.
Jim Vallance, Bryan Adams’ songwriting partner (his share of songs he wrote with Adams to Round Hill), price undisclosed
Ryan Tedder, songwriter for OneRepublic and others (to Hipgnosis), price undisclosed
Shakria (100% of 145 songs to Hipgnosis), price undisclosed
KT Tunstall (50% of her catalogue to Primary wave), price undisclosed
Mick Fleetwood (his share of Fleetwood Mac songwriting to BMG), price undisclosed.
Ed Roland (all the music he wrote for Collective Soul to Primary Wave), price undisclosed.
Bob Rock (100% of his rights to Metallica’s black album and four Michael Buble albums to Hipgnosis), price undisclosed
Sun Records (including all the masters from Johnny Cash and Jerry Lee Lewis to Primary Wave), US$30 million.
Massive Attack (two-thirds of their catalogue to Round Hill), price undisclosed.
Silverchair (entire catalogue to Sony), price undisclosed.
Beach Boys (EVERYTHING. All IP to Irving Azoff’s Iconic Artists), price undisclosed.
David Crosby (everything from his solo career, CSN, The Byrds, and more to Irving Azoff’s Iconic Artists), price undisclosed.
Glenn Tipton, guitarist with Judas Priest (50% of his song catalogue to Reach Music) price undisclosed.
Carole Bayer Sager, songwriter (catalogue to Hipgnosis), price undisclosed.
Linda Ronstadt (catalogue to Irving Azoff’s Iconic Arists), at least US$50 million.
Paul Simon (everything to Sony Music Publishing), price undisclosed.
Patrick Leonard, one of Madonna’s collaborators (everything to Primary Wave), in a “multi-million-dollar deal.”
Red Hot Chili Peppers (all pre-2020 material to Hipgnosis), US$140 million.
Andrew Watt, Grammy Award-winning songwriter for Shawn Mendes, Camila Cabello, and others (105 songs to Hipgnosis), in an “eight-figure deal.”
David Guetta (catalogue to Warner Music), US$100 million.
Chris Issak (50% stake in master recordings to Primary Wave), in a “multi-million-dollar deal.
Prince’s estate, (almost 50% stake of rights to name and likeness, masters, and publishing to Primary Wave), price undisclosed.
Christine McVIe of Fleetwood Mac (115 songs to Hipgnosis), price undisclosed. This means four out of five members of the band have now sold their catalogues.
Trevor Rabin (3,528 film cues and songs to Primary Wave), price undisclosed.
The O’Jays (532 studio recording to Round Hill Music), price undisclosed.
Tina Turner (a huge chunk of her stuff to BMG), price undisclosed.
The Weeknd, Drake, Justin Bieber (a whack of hit songs to Kilometre Music group), price undisclosed.
Bing Crosby (LOTS of stuff to Primary Wave), price undisclosed.
Gerry Goffin (a stake to Primary Wave), US$20 million.
Luther Vandross (a stake to Primary Wave), US$40 million.
Mike Scott of The Waterboys (a stake to Primary Wave), price undisclosed.
Jeff Porcaro, the late drummer of Toto (catalogue to Primary Wave), US$30 million
Motley Crue (recordings catalogue to BMG), US$90 million.
Jim Peterik of Survivor and 38 Special (a big stake in songs like “Eye of the Tiger” to Primary Wave), US$20 million.
James Brown (a stake in his publishing to Primary Wave), estimated at US$90 million.
Bruce Springsteen (300 songs, 20 studio albums, 23 live albums and more to Sony), estimated at US$500 million.
ZZ Top (their “entire music interests” to both BMG and KKR), estimated at US$50 million.
David Bowie (his entire catalogue to Warner-Chappell), US$250 million.
John Legend (his music catalogue to BMG and KKR), price undisclosed.
Christian singer-songwriter Matt Redman (a partnership with Primary Wave), price undisclosed.
Nancy Wilson of Heart (a “significant share” song catalogue to Round Hill Music), price undisclosed.
Paul Rodgers, famous for his time in Free and Bad Company (a stake in his publishing catalogue to Primary Wave), US$20 million
Gerry Beckley and Dewey Bunnell of America (their entire catalogue, including songs like “Horse with No Name” to Primary Wave), US$40 million.
Kenney Chesney (80% of recorded music royalties from 2014-2017 to Hipgnosis), price undisclosed.
Travis Tritt (publishing catalogue to Reservoir), price undisclosed.
Luis Fonsi, the “Despacito” guy (publishing catalogue to HarbourView Equity Partners), perhaps for as much as US$100 million.
Murda Beatz (producer for Drake and Migos, 285 songs) to Kilometre Music Group), price undisclosed.
Def Leppard (an “additional stake” in their music publishing catalogue to Primary Wave), price undisclosed.
Robbie Robertson of The Band (publishing, name/image/likeness, and recorded music interests to Iconoclast), price undisclosed.
The estates of Layne Staley and Mike Starr (both now-dead members of Alice in Chains, catalogue stakes in the band’s songs to Primary Wave), price undisclosed.
And the rest of Alice in Chains’ music (everyone else, selling to Round Hill) in a deal rumoured to be US$50 million.
James Newton Howard, movie composer (all music income and copyrights to Multimedia Music), price undisclosed.\
Sting (entire music catalogue to Universal Music Publishing), >US$300 million.
John Lee Hooker (all music interests to BMG), price undisclosed.
Jason Aldeen (90% of music catalogues plus masters to Spirit Music Group), >US$100 million.
Neil Diamond (complete song catalogue and all master recordings to Universal), possibly north of US$300 million.
Lionel Hampton, Thelonious Monk, and other jazz greats (catalogues of Regent Music and Jewel Music to Primary Wave), price undisclosed.
Leonard Cohen (278 songs, including “Hallelujah,” which has been covered over 300 times to Hipgnosis), price undisclosed.
Martina McBride (master royalties to Primary Wave), price undisclosed.
The estate of Nat King Cole (catalogue to Iconic Artists Group), price undisclosed.
Swedish House Mafia (catalogue and masters to Pophouse), price undisclosed.
Bob Dylan’s share of the Traveling Wilburys catalogue (to Primary Wave), price undisclosed.
Country songwriter Ashley Gorley (catalogue to Sony and Domain Capital), possibly US$40 million.
Justin Timberlake (everything to Hipgnosis), price undisclosed, although the rumour is US$100 million.
Julian Casablancas of The Strokes (his Strokes stakes to Primary Wave), price undisclosed.
Tom Whitlock, composer of “Danger Zone” and other movie music (sale of Primary Way), price undisclosed.
Frank Zappa (recordings, song catalogue, 1,000+ hours of audio and video to Universal Music), price undisclosed.
Simple Minds (“key music interests” to BMG), price undisclosed.
Jean-Michel Jarre (entire publishing catalogue to BMG), price undisclosed.
Matt Sorum of Guns N’ Roses, Velvet Revolver, and The Cult (publishing and recorded music rights to Reservoir), price undisclosed.
Brad Paisley (music catalogue to HarborView Equity Partners). The rumoured price is US$25 million.
Lady A (music catalogue to HarborView Equity Partners) price undisclosed.
Deryck Whibley, the chief songwriter of Sum 41 (publishing and recorded music catalogue to HarbourView Equity Partners), price undisclosed.
Chuck D of Public Enemy (a chunk of his share in PE songs to Reach Music Publishing), price undisclosed.
Future (612 songs to Influence Media Partners), selling price in the “eight figures.”

Label Artist Date % of catalogue	Value Number Songs

Hipgnosis	Justin Bieber	Jan ’23	100%	$200M	290
Universal Music Group & Shamrock Holdings	Dr. Dre	Jan ’23	Artist & writer royalties	$200M	Undisclosed
Litmus Music	Keith Urban	Dec ’22	100%	Undisclosed	Undisclosed
Primary Wave	Huey Lewis and the News	Nov ’22	100%	$20M	Undisclosed
Primary Wave	Joey Ramone	Oct ’22	Publishing rights	$10M	Undisclosed
Pophouse Entertainment	Avicii	Sep ’22	75% of recordings and publishing	Undisclosed (Est. nine figures)	Undisclosed
Concord Music Group	Phil Collins/Genesis	Sep ’22	100% of publishing rights	$300M	Undisclosed
Influence Media Partners	Future	Sep ’22	Publishing catalog from 2004 to 2020	Undisclosed	612
Reach Music Publishing	Chuck D (Public Enemy)	Sep ’22	50% copyright interest; 100% writer’s share	Undisclosed	300
HarbourView Equity Partners	Deryck Whibley (Sum 41)	Aug ’22	100%	Undisclosed	Undisclosed
Hipgnosis	Justin Timberlake	May ’22	100%	Undisclosed (Est. $100M)	200
Hipgnosis	Leonard Cohen	Mar ’22	100%	Undisclosed	278
Universal Music Publishing Group	Sting	Feb ’22	100%	Undisclosed (Est. $300M)	Undisclosed
Universal Music Publishing Group	Neil Diamond	Feb ’22	100%	Undisclosed – est $300m	Undisclosed
Hipgnosis	Kenny Chesney	Jan ’22	80% of recorded music royalties	Undisclosed	Undisclosed
BMG & KKR	John Legend	Jan ’22	Rights to music from 2004 to early 2020	Undisclosed	Undisclosed
Round Hill Music	David Coverdale	Jan ’22	100%	Undisclosed	Undisclosed
Warner Chappell Music	David Bowie	Jan ’22	100%	Undisclosed (Est. $250M)	400+
Sony Music Entertainment	Bob Dylan	Jan ’22	100% of recorded rights	$200M	Undisclosed