In a landmark deal, Bob Dylan sold his entire publishing catalog to Universal Music Publishing in 2016 for an estimated $300-400M. BBC News
The types of music rights involved include:
- Mechanical rights: Allow reproduction and distribution of Dylan's songs in physical and digital formats.
- Performance rights: Grant the right to publicly perform Dylan's songs.
- Synchronization rights: Allow use of Dylan's music in films, TV shows, and commercials.
Music rights societies like ASCAP and BMI collect and distribute royalties for these rights. Who owns the right to music can significantly impact an artist's earnings.
Fast forward to 2022, Sony Music acquired Dylan's master recordings for a reported $200M. Variety
This double deal values Dylan's music catalog at approximately $500M. A testament to his enduring influence and the power of music as an investment asset.