In 2019, the music catalog of Shannon Rubicam and George Merrill, the duo behind over 60 hit songs for Whitney Houston, was sold for an estimated $50-100 million. This deal, one of the largest in music publishing history, was facilitated by Primary Wave Music Publishing.

According to Music Business Worldwide, the sale included "hits like 'How Will I Know', 'Greatest Love of All', 'I Will Always Love You', 'I'm Your Baby Tonight', 'Exhale (Shoop Shoop)', and 'I Have Nothing'."

Rubicam and Merrill's songs have been a significant part of Houston's discography, contributing to her success and iconic status in the music industry. The duo's collaboration with Houston began in the late 1980s and continued throughout her career.

Music rights, a crucial aspect of the music industry, refer to the legal ownership and control of the copyrights to musical compositions and recordings. In this case, Rubicam and Merrill owned the rights to the compositions they wrote for Houston. The sale of these rights to Primary Wave Music Publishing granted them a substantial financial return.

Billboard reported that the deal also included "a significant stake in the songwriters' future royalties."

The sale of music rights has become increasingly popular in the music industry, with various entities, including private equity firms and music publishing companies, investing in these assets. Music rights societies, such as ASCAP and BMI, play a crucial role in collecting and distributing royalties for songwriters and publishers.

For more information on music rights and the music publishing industry, check out the ASCAP and BMI websites.