On Monday, Warner Music Group announced that its publishing company Warner Chappell Music has made a deal with David Bowie’s estate to sell the singers music publishing catalog.
It is reported that Bowie’s catalog, including songs like “Space Oddity,” “Changes,” “Life on Mars?” and “Ziggy Stardust,” sold for upwards of $250 million.
The announcement of the deal comes as part of the “Bowie 75” celebration, which will take place on Saturday, Jan. 8, to commemorate the late singer’s 75th birthday. It includes songs from David Bowie’s 26 studio albums, as well as the posthumous studio album “Toy.” It also includes songs from “Tin Machine’s” two studio albums, as well as singles from soundtracks and other projects.
“All of us at Warner Chappell are immensely proud that the David Bowie estate has chosen us to be the caretakers of one of the most groundbreaking, influential, and enduring catalogs in music history,” Warner Chappell Music co-chair and CEO Guy Moot said, “These are not only extraordinary songs, but milestones that have changed the course of modern music forever.”
“We are truly gratified that David Bowie’s body of music will now be in the capable hands of Warner Chappell Music Publishing,” said attorney Allen Grubman, who represented Bowie’s estate. “We are sure they will cherish it and take care of it with the greatest level of dignity.”
Warner Music Group licensed the worldwide rights to the “Let’s Dance” singer’s career, which spanned 1968 through 2016, in September. The publishing deal announced on Monday is the latest in a wave of record company acquisitions of legendary artists’ music libraries.
In December, ZZ Top sold its music catalog to investment firm KKR and record company BMG for $50 million. Shortly after that, Bruce Springsteen sold his iconic song and publishing catalog to Sony Music for $500 million.
Bob Dylan also sold his massive 600-song catalog to Universal Music Publishing Group for a reported $300 million to $400 million in December 2020. At the same time, Fleetwood Mac singer-songwriter Stevie Nicks sold 80 percent of her rights to her own songwriting catalog, to music publisher Primary Wave for a reported $100 million.
Universal Music Group is also in advance talks with Sting to buy his music for $250 million.
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