Music rights gold rush

The value of song catalogues is on the rise. It has accelerated in the past year, allowing musicians – who earn most of their income from touring – to continue to make music during the pandemic

$67m 
1969, The Beatles: Paul McCartney and John Lennon sell their share of Northern Songs, which held copyrights, to ATV Music for £3.5 million – $67 million at current rates

$88m
1997, Bowie Bonds: David Bowie gives up future royalties for 10 years in exchange for an upfront cash payout of $55m for catalogue of 25 albums – $88m at current rates

$700m
Mar 2019-Mar 2020: UK-based Hipgnosis Songs Fund spends some $700m to acquire 42 catalogues – Hipgnosis has invested $1.66 billion since it was founded in 2018

$300m 
Nov 2020, Taylor Swift: Rights to her first six albums are sold to private equity firm without her knowledge for some $300m

$100m
Nov, The Killers: Las Vegas rock band sell their pre-2020 music catalogue to investment company Eldridge, reportedly for $100m

$100m
Dec, Stevie Nicks: Fleetwood Mac singer-songwriter sells 80% interest in her music catalogue to Primary Wave Music for about $100m

$400m
Dec, Bob Dylan: Sells catalogue to Universal Music Publishing Group after reportedly rejecting $400m offer from Hipgnosis

$150m 
Jan 2021, Neil Young: Sells 5% share of his back catalogue to Hipgnosis in deal that could be worth $150m
  
      
Sources: Billboard, Hipgnosis, MarketWatch, Variety 
Pictures: Associated Press 
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