Entertainment

Bob Dylan Sells Entire Songwriting Catalog to Universal Music Publishing

  • Last Updated:
  • Apr 3rd, 2021 3:54 pm
9 replies
Deal Guru
Aug 5, 2006
10075 posts
7219 upvotes
Global Village
The rare commercial music artist who has controlled ownership of all his work and is now being rewarded for it, good for him.
All day I dream about sports

My Banks: Tangerine, Meridian, EQ Bank, Simplii
Deal Guru
User avatar
Mar 12, 2005
11369 posts
3174 upvotes
Victoria
I read that earlier today. I guess it makes sense. If your an older artists, you've only got so many years left. You can only collect so much from the royalties every year. Then it goes to your estate. Why not sell it when you've only got so many years left a head of you, and then you can spend the money :)

It is pretty cool that up until this point he owned the copyrights on his own music. That's a pretty big rarity.
Deal Fanatic
User avatar
Mar 20, 2009
9329 posts
7399 upvotes
Toronto
What a sell out!!! Judas!!!!!!

https://ultimateclassicrock.com/bob-dyl ... s-concert/
Bob Dylan’s decision to go electric didn’t sit well with a lot of fans, who felt that he had sold out folk music for a rock 'n’ roll payday. It all came to a head on May, 17, 1966, during one of the last stops on his world tour.
In case it isn't clear - I'm totally joking. Just a reference to how hostile his original 60's fanbase became when he started using electric guitars for concerts. Pretty funny that it would take 50+ years for him to actually sellout (his catalogue).
"When someone is burning a book, they are showing utter contempt for all of the thinking that produced its ideas, all of the labor that went into its words and sentences, and all of the trouble that befell the author . . .” ― Lemony Snicket
Deal Expert
Dec 26, 2010
24819 posts
9316 upvotes
Well, when you get old...

Michael Moorcock sold the rights to Elric and other properties since he is now in his 80s and (I guess) wants to leave something for his offspring for the future. Same thing happened with Tolkien's works when his grandson got hold of the estate. Probably going to see a lot more of this as these people reach a point where they know they can't go on holding out much longer. Corporations can just wait you out...
[OP]
Deal Fanatic
Nov 1, 2006
9443 posts
3641 upvotes
Toronto
Lots of rumours about how much is involved. USD300m is being reported by multiple sources. I guess we'll never actually find out.

EDIT:

From Rolling Stone "Prior to taking his deal with Universal Music Publishing Group, Bob Dylan turned down a $400 million bid from Merck Mercuriadis’s Hipgnosis Songs Fund, a source familiar to the situation tells Rolling Stone."
Deal Expert
Jul 23, 2007
16366 posts
10416 upvotes
Toronto
Missed news of a lawsuit filed in January by lawyers of co-writer of several songs on the Dylan album Desire
Dylan's lawyers further detail their legal argument to dismiss Jacques Levy's claims

https://variety.com/2021/music/news/bob ... 234938835/

Unrelated to this specific lawsuit but relevant to the oft exploitative music business, Variety also posted an article yesterday concerning the pervasive practice of artists claiming undeserved songwriting credit for ill gotten royalties

https://variety.com/2021/music/news/son ... 234939379/

Maybe abolish work for hire or at least undertake some meaningful reform
Deal Guru
May 9, 2007
13832 posts
4222 upvotes
Vancouver Island, BC
The times, they are a-changin..
Global warming will be exceeded during the 21st century unless deep reductions in carbon dioxide (CO2) and other greenhouse gas emissions occur (United Nations IPCC Report 2021)

Every disaster film starts with scientists being ignored
Deal Expert
Jul 23, 2007
16366 posts
10416 upvotes
Toronto
scoper wrote: The rare commercial music artist who has controlled ownership of all his work and is now being rewarded for it, good for him.
Apparently Paul Simon is another

He's the latest artist to sell his catalogue and one contributor to NBC takes the opportunity pass judgement on the septuagenarian (almost octogenarian) place in history

https://www.nbcnews.com/think/opinion/p ... cna1262845

Top

Thread Information

There is currently 1 user viewing this thread. (0 members and 1 guest)