In a recent music rights deal, country music group Lady A (formerly Lady Antebellum) sold a significant portion of their music catalogue to HarborView Equity Partners. The financial details of the transaction were not disclosed.

According to Billboard, Lady A's music catalogue includes "their publishing and recording royalties from their hits like 'Need You Now,' 'Bartender,' and 'I Run to You.' The deal also covers future royalties from their upcoming releases." ¹

Music rights can encompass various types, including publishing rights (lyrics and compositions) and recording rights (master recordings). These rights can be owned by different entities, such as artists, record labels, or music publishers. ²

Music rights societies, like ASCAP, BMI, and SESAC, help manage and collect royalties for songwriters and publishers. They also play a role in licensing music for various uses, such as broadcasting and public performances. ³

Lady A's decision to sell their music catalogue follows a trend of artists monetizing their back catalogues. In 2020, Bob Dylan sold his entire songwriting catalog to Universal Music Publishing Group for an estimated $300 million. ⁴

Sources:

[1] Billboard. (2021, March 16). Lady A Sells Majority of Its Music Catalog to HarborView Equity Partners. https://www.billboard.com/music/country/lady-a-harborview-equity-partners-music-catalog-sale-1235011263/

[2] Music Business Worldwide. (n.d.). What Are Music Rights? A Comprehensive Guide. https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/what-are-music-rights-a-comprehensive-guide/

[3] ASCAP. (n.d.). What Are Music Rights? https://www.ascap.com/resources/glossary/music-rights

[4] Rolling Stone. (2020, September 14). Bob Dylan Sells His Songwriting Catalog to Universal Music for $300 Million. https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/bob-dylan-sells-songwriting-catalog-to-universal-music-for-300-million-1111112/

Footnotes

1. Billboard. (2021, March 16). Lady A Sells Majority of Its Music Catalog to HarborView Equity Partners. https://www.billboard.com/music/country/lady-a-harborview-equity-partners-music-catalog-sale-1235011263/ ↩

2. Music Business Worldwide. (n.d.). What Are Music Rights? A Comprehensive Guide. https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/what-are-music-rights-a-comprehensive-guide/ ↩

3. ASCAP. (n.d.). What Are Music Rights? https://www.ascap.com/resources/glossary/music-rights ↩

4. Rolling Stone. (2020, September 14). Bob Dylan Sells His Songwriting Catalog to Universal Music for $300 Million. https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/bob-dylan-sells-songwriting-catalog-to-universal-music-for-300-million-1111112/ ↩