Bob Dylan and 2 Other Artists Who Have Grossed Hundreds of Millions Selling Their Music Catalogs

As musicians begin to age and slow down with touring and recording. Finding different revenue streams is essential to being able to capitalize on an artist’s worth. That being so, many artists have started ancillary brands, invested, or just changed careers entirely. However, one way in which numerous musicians have kept their profits high is by selling their recording catalogs to record labels.

In short, this means selling the publishing rights to one’s songs. Thus songwriters no longer get royalties when their music is used; rather, the label who owns the music does. At the surface, this may seem like a gamble, though, it can be an incredibly lucrative transaction depending on the current relevancy and longevity of an artist. Here are three artists who have capitalized on this tactic and made hundreds of millions from it.

1. Bob Dylan

In 2022, Dylan sold his entire back catalog of recorded music consisting of everything from his 1962 self-titled debut album to his 2020 album, Rough and Rowdy Ways. According to Variety, Dylan sold his catalog to Sony Music Entertainment for approximately $150 million to $200 million.

Additionally, in 2020, Dylan also sold his entire catalog of songs to Universal Music Group. The deal was estimated to have made Dylan “a sizable nine-figure amount, north of $200M,” according to NBC. Between both deals, Dylan reportedly grossed somewhere around $400 million. Not only did the money follow, but both these deals were ahead of their time and started a trend amongst older artists.

2. David Bowie

Six years after his death in 2016, David Bowie’s estate sold the entirety of his music catalog to Warner Chappell Music in 2022. Per Forbes, the deal consisted of Bowie’s 26 albums, and singles such as “Changes,” “Under Pressure,” as well as “Fame.” Bowie’s estate made more than $250 million from the sale and also became partners with Warner Music according to Variety.

Despite the monetary benefits each party received, the deal is also another way to make sure the departed Bowie’s music remains relevant and in the ears of people across the world.

3. Stevie Nicks

Unlike Bowie and Dylan, Nicks did not sell her whole catalog. Instead, Nicks sold an 80% stake in her music to publisher Primary Wave for $100 million. Even though Nicks does not own the majority of her catalog, she still has part ownership—meaning, she still obtains some autonomy over her music.

Following a piece published by Yahoo Entertainment, the deal was comprised of Nick’s hit songs “Edge of Seventeen,” “Landslide,” and other Fleetwood Mac hits. Following the closing of Nicks’ deal, Lindsey Buckingham and Mick Fleetwood also sold the rights to their music.

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