Sony Music Entertainment (SONY) has acquired the entire recorded music catalog of Bob Dylan for a reported $200 million U.S.
The deal includes all of the famed singer’s previous albums dating back to 1962 as well as the rights to multiple future releases. The deal has been estimated to be worth between $150 million U.S. and $200 million U.S., according to various media reports.
News of the deal with Sony Music comes two years after Bob Dylan sold his song writing rights in 2020 to Universal Music in a deal estimated to be worth $300 million U.S., according to The New York Times newspaper.
Dylan, age 80, is one of many older musicians who have sold off rights to their catalogs in recent years. Neil Young, Bruce Springsteen and others have each sold the rights to their music and song writing catalogues.
Industry analysts speculate that these sales are part of the aging artists’ estate planning.
Song catalogs are valuable assets, but require extensive management, something that heirs are often unequipped or unwilling to do. Additionally, there is a movement in Washington, D.C. to increase capital gains taxes above their current 20% threshold.
