Queen's catalog sells to Sony Music for over $1.2 billion in record-breaking deal

[DarkHammer]

Queen sold their music catalogue for a $1.2 Billion USD!!!

https://www.foxbusiness.com/entertainment/queen-could-sell-music-catalog-record-breaking-deal-report

Couple thought immediately jump to my head:

1) Talking about selling out...what would Freddie think about this?

2) What is Sony going to do with the songs? Considering that Queen hasn't been a band since Freddie died in 1991, it's mostly old classics. Does general public even know any of their songs besides couple which are played at sports events? How is Sony going to make money out of this?

What do you think?   

 

 

[RobB]

6 minutes ago, DarkHammer said:

Queen sold their music catalogue for a $1.2 Billion USD!!!

1) Talking about selling out...what would Freddie think about this?

He’d prolly think, “hot DAMN! I’m $300,0000,000 richer! WHOOT!!!”

[Steve Haynie]

When David Bowie sold stock in his back catalog his songs began appearing in ad campaigns/commercials.  Iron Maiden sold stock in their catalog to pump money into their video game. 

Expect to hear more Queen songs in movies and in advertising.  Do not count out seeing Queen Abba-tars / avatars one day. 

Edited June 24, 2024 by Steve Haynie

[DarkHammer]

How many commercials do they need to do to make $1.2 Billion back?

[BadgerDave]

Can't wait to see what auto, telecom, AI or fintech corporation wins the bidding war for the "We Will Rock You" license.

[zorrow]

Queen got popular again after the “Bohemian Rhapsody” movie. That’s how timeless they are. Their music is a product that will be sold and resold in multiple ways, until our extinction as a species. And while I don’t know what’s the ROI plan for Sony, I bet Brian, Roger, John and whoever is getting Freddie’s chunk are rubbing their hands. 

Edited June 26, 2024 by zorrow

[velorush]

15 hours ago, DarkHammer said:

2) What is Sony going to do with the songs? Considering that Queen hasn't been a band since Freddie died in 1991, it's mostly old classics. Does general public even know any of their songs besides couple which are played at sports events? How is Sony going to make money out of this?

What do you think?   

I recall from one of the Beato videos Queen was cited as one of the most streamed artists in all of Spotify.  His point was that even younger listeners were attracted to real songcraft and that Queen in particular really stood up to the scrutiny of time.

ETA: Fourth in Total Equivalent Album Sales

 

Edited June 25, 2024 by velorush

[DarkHammer]

I had no idea Queen is so popular

[cornjulio]

We'll be hearing a lot of old music in the future, that's for sure 😉

[santellavision]

They probably make a million in royalties every weekend during NFL football games! haha.

Edited June 25, 2024 by santellavision

[draelyc]

Seems like a lot of major, longtime acts have been selling their catalogs the last few years.  Is there some advantage to it in addition to the st00pid amounts of money?  I mean, I understand getting hit over the head with a checkbook, but those are your songs, man… 🤷🏻‍♀️🤷🏻‍♀️🤷🏻‍♀️

[JGale]

There has to be a point of dismissing returns for royalties and the “reward” of performing them…again…

The market return on that pile should hold them for a while. It’s time for toys! (While they still can)

[ARM OF HAMER]

                                              Freddy would be A-OK with it I believe; I mean it is their intellectual property, who better to get the money than them. Many other big-name artists are doing the same, less trouble for them after they are gone as to who gets what and for how much. Queen were a huge act ack in the day and remain very popular today still so no surprise Sony coughed up some major dough to buy their music, good for them.

[Disturber]

Sony will run the entire Queen catalogue through their latest AI-computer. And out comes 1.2 BILLION new "Queen" songs, for which they will only charge one dollar per commercial sync. That is 1.2 billion new Queen commercials, one for every man and woman on  earth. That is how Sony will recoup this catalogue buy out.

[DaveL]

2 hours ago, ARM OF HAMER said:

                                              Freddy would be A-OK with it I believe; I mean it is their intellectual property, who better to get the money than them. Many other big-name artists are doing the same, less trouble for them after they are gone as to who gets what and for how much. Queen were a huge act ack in the day and remain very popular today still so no surprise Sony coughed up some major dough to buy their music, good for them.

 

 I agree... and I would also say artists would rather have the cash so their estate/familes won't have to chase publishing companies,

record labels etc..   

[MCChris]

Sony should employ all the experts in this thread and get better advice about how to invest their money and the ROI they can expect. Because, you know, Sony has never demonstrated an ability to turn a profit.

[Kookaburra]

On 6/25/2024 at 4:19 PM, draelyc said:

Seems like a lot of major, longtime acts have been selling their catalogs the last few years.  Is there some advantage to it in addition to the st00pid amounts of money?  I mean, I understand getting hit over the head with a checkbook, but those are your songs, man… 🤷🏻‍♀️🤷🏻‍♀️🤷🏻‍♀️

I suspect that for the artists, after many years, some financial security matters.

[tbonesullivan]

Sounds like there was somewhat of a Bidding war over the catalog, and the only thing it doesn't cover is live performances. Right now seems to be THE time for a lot of acts from the 70s and 80s that aren't actively recording as much anymore to sell their catalogs for a big payout. Also, none of the living members of Queen are getting any younger, and I think combined they have 13 children. I'm not sure how Freddie's share of the rights was divided, but there would be his sister and her children, and Mary Austin had children as well.  Money is a lot easier to divide up than shares in a music catalog.

[DarkHammer]

On 6/26/2024 at 7:02 AM, Disturber said:

Sony will run the entire Queen catalogue through their latest AI-computer. And out comes 1.2 BILLION new "Queen" songs, for which they will only charge one dollar per commercial sync. That is 1.2 billion new Queen commercials, one for every man and woman on  earth. That is how Sony will recoup this catalogue buy out.

so, basically AI will make fake songs. It's hard to see big interest in such product. 

[jwhitcomb3]

On 6/28/2024 at 7:29 AM, DarkHammer said:

so, basically AI will make fake songs. It's hard to see big interest in such product. 

Music has been so stagnant for so long. Is the AI stuff going to be any worse than the dreck that's currently being consumed?