In a major deal for film and TV music rights, acclaimed composer James Newton Howard has sold all of his music income and copyrights to Multimedia Music. The financial details of the transaction were not disclosed.
Howard, known for his work on blockbuster movies like "The Hunger Games," "The Sixth Sense," and "M. Night Shyamalan's Signs," has sold his music catalog to Multimedia Music. This deal follows the recent trend of music rights acquisitions, with companies like Hipgnosis Songs Fund and Primary Wave Music investing heavily in music catalogs.
According to reports, Multimedia Music has raised over $100 million to acquire music rights from various artists and songwriters. The company's first significant acquisition, besides Howard's catalog, was the purchase of a stake in the catalog of singer-songwriter Dua Lipa.
Music rights refer to the legal ownership of the intellectual property of a musical composition or recording. These rights can be bought and sold, and they can generate revenue through various means, such as royalties from streaming platforms, synchronization fees for use in media, and live performances.
Music rights societies, such as ASCAP, BMI, and SESAC, help manage and collect royalties for music creators. They represent the rights of songwriters, composers, and publishers, and they negotiate licenses and fees on their behalf.
For more information on music rights and the music industry, check out the following resources:
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