Country songwriter Ashley Gorley's music catalogue, encompassing hits like "Body Like a Back Road" and "Take Me Home, Girl," was reportedly acquired by Sony Music Publishing and Domain Capital in a deal worth around $40 million ¹. The acquisition includes Gorley's entire songwriting catalog, which spans over two decades and boasts collaborations with artists such as Blake Shelton, Carrie Underwood, and Keith Urban ².

Gorley, a prolific songwriter, has had an impressive career, earning him numerous accolades, including being named ASCAP's Country Songwriter of the Year five times ³. His songs have been recorded by various artists, leading to significant royalties from performances, mechanical licenses, and synchronization deals ⁴.

Music rights, including songwriting royalties, have become an increasingly attractive investment for financial institutions and private equity firms. With the rise of streaming platforms, the value of music rights has grown exponentially ⁵. The types of music rights include mechanical rights, performance rights, and synchronization rights ⁶. Music rights societies, such as ASCAP and BMI, collect and distribute royalties to songwriters and publishers ⁷.

Who owns the right to music can be a complex issue, as it depends on various factors, including the specific agreement between the songwriter, publisher, and record label. In the case of Ashley Gorley, his publishing catalog was acquired by Sony Music Publishing and Domain Capital, giving them the rights to collect and distribute royalties from his songs ¹.

Footnotes

1. https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/sony-music-publishing-teams-with-domain-capital-to-acquire-career-spanning-catalog-from-hit-songwriter-ashley-gorley-mbws-sources-put-the-deal-at-40m/ ↩ ↩²

2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ashley_Gorley ↩

3. https://www.ascap.com/awards/country-songwriter-of-the-year ↩

4. https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/what-are-music-rights-and-how-do-they-work/ ↩

5. https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesbusinesscouncil/2021/03/25/music-royalties-are-the-new-silicon-valley-goldrush-heres-why/?sh=7a164a2e3e2e ↩

6. https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/what-are-music-rights-and-how-do-they-work/ ↩

7. https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/what-are-music-rights-societies-and-how-do-they-work/ ↩