Reservoir Media, an independent music company led by Golnar Khosrowshahi, has acquired the majority of Miles Davis estate's music rights, including 90% of his publishing rights, ahead of Davis's centennial, highlighting its growth and strategic acquisitions in the competitive music catalog industry.
YouTube Music celebrates its 10th anniversary by launching new features like Taste Match playlists, concert notifications, and social commenting, aiming to compete more effectively with Spotify. The service now boasts over 300 million tracks and 125 million subscribers, with enhancements designed to boost social engagement and user experience.
Streaming of Taylor Swift's original Big Machine albums surged between 110% and 430% per title after she regained ownership of her early catalog, allowing fans to stream the original versions again following her purchase from Shamrock Holdings. Overall, her catalog saw a 55.1% increase in streams on a single day, with the biggest gains for 'Speak Now' and her debut album, reflecting renewed interest in her early work.
Taylor Swift has successfully regained control of her first six albums, a move bolstered by her billionaire status, allowing her to profit directly from her music rights and licensing, marking a significant milestone in her career and personal achievement.
Taylor Swift has bought back the master recordings of her first six albums from Shamrock Capital, gaining full control over her music catalog after losing the rights in 2019 when her previous label sold them. She expressed joy and gratitude towards her fans for their support, which helped her re-record some albums as 'Taylor’s Version' to regain control. Swift has now completed recording her debut album and is working on re-recording 'Reputation,' with plans for future releases.
Sony Music is reportedly in talks to acquire Queen's music catalog for $1 billion, making it one of the largest deals in the music industry. The deal would include rights to iconic hits and merchandising opportunities, reflecting the soaring value of music catalogs due to the growth of streaming services.
Gene Simmons stated that the sale of Kiss' rights and music catalog to Pophouse Entertainment for a reported $300 million wasn't about money but rather a natural agreement, as the Swedish corporation had been working with the band on an avatar concept. He emphasized the importance of enjoying life and predicted a reinvention for Kiss after their final show in December 2023. Simmons also expressed excitement for touring with the Gene Simmons Band and further developing the restaurant chain he co-founded with Paul Stanley.
Kiss has sold the rights to their music catalog, including their iconic personas and makeup, to Pophouse, the Swedish company behind the ABBA Voyage hologram show, for a reported sum of over $300 million. As part of the deal, Pophouse will create digital avatars of the band, allowing them to live on as holograms starting in 2027. The partnership aims to bring the full Kiss experience to both existing and new fans for years to come, with plans for avatar shows, a biopic, and a Kiss-themed experience. Pophouse is still exploring how to best utilize the avatars, which are larger-than-life versions of the band members in full regalia, and has also acquired the rights to Cyndi Lauper's music catalog.
Rock band Kiss has sold their music catalog, name, image, and likeness to Pophouse Entertainment for over $300 million, with plans to promote the group's music and imagery for future generations. Pophouse, known for ABBA's hologram show, aims to create a digital concert experience similar to ABBA's with Kiss. The deal reflects Pophouse's strategy of acquiring iconic music catalogs and leveraging cutting-edge technology to enhance the visual world of Kiss.
Kiss has sold their catalog, brand name, and IP to Swedish company Pophouse Entertainment Group for over $300 million, with plans for a biopic, documentary, and digital avatar experiences. Pophouse aims to expose Kiss to new generations and emphasizes collaboration rather than acquisition, with Gene Simmons assuring fans that the band will stay committed to their creation. This marks Pophouse's second major music investment outside of Sweden, following a partnership with Cyndi Lauper to develop new ways to bring her music to fans and younger audiences.
Kiss has sold their catalog, brand name, and IP to Pophouse Entertainment Group for over $300 million, with plans for a biopic, documentary, and digital avatar experiences. Pophouse aims to introduce Kiss to new generations and collaborate closely with the band, as Gene Simmons emphasizes that it's not just an acquisition but a collaboration. The deal also marks the end of live touring for Kiss, with Pophouse's previous investment in Cyndi Lauper signaling a focus on developing new ways to bring music to fans and younger audiences.
Lawyers for Katherine Jackson argued in court that the estate co-executors should be held in contempt for finalizing a $600 million deal with Sony for Michael Jackson's music assets while she's still appealing a ruling on the matter. The judge, however, ruled that the executors had the authority to proceed with the deal, but would be personally liable if their actions led to lawsuits. The estate maintains that the deal allows them to retain control over Michael's music and legacy, while diversifying their assets. The probate case is still open due to unresolved issues, including a tax dispute and revived lawsuits from two of Jackson's molestation accusers.
Sony Music Group has reportedly purchased half of Michael Jackson's music catalog for at least $600 million, valuing the King of Pop's music at $1.2 billion, potentially the largest valuation ever of a musician's music assets. The deal includes tracks by other artists acquired by Jackson's Mijac publishing group and comes as an upcoming biopic about Jackson's life and career is set to hit the big screen. This deal marks a significant move in the music business and highlights the enduring popularity of Jackson's music, particularly in the streaming era.
Sony has acquired half of Michael Jackson's publishing and recorded masters catalog in a deal valued at over $1.2 billion, with Sony paying at least $600 million for its stake. Jackson's estate was seeking $800 million-$900 million for half of its interests in the singer's music catalog last February. Despite facing allegations of child sexual abuse, Jackson remains one of the best-selling artists of all time, and his estate continues to deny the claims.
Sony has reached a blockbuster deal to acquire half of Michael Jackson’s music catalog from the star’s estate, valuing the total collection at $1.2 billion or more. This deal, likely the richest transaction ever for a single musician’s work, includes Jackson’s recorded music and songwriting rights, as well as the music publishing assets in his Mijac catalog. The estate retains control over other lucrative Jackson-related businesses, such as the Broadway musical "MJ" and Cirque du Soleil's Jackson-themed shows.