Pop icon Britney Spears made a major deal with independent music publisher Primary Wave. The singer sold her ownership share in the recordings and publishing rights to a catalog that defined pop in the late '90s.
The deal includes her share of royalties and publishing rights across her discography, including nine studio albums released from 1999 to 2016, reports Rolling Stone.
We're talking about pop-changing hits like “…Baby One More Time” and “Oops!… I Did It Again”, but you’ve also got the iconic singles “Toxic” and “Gimme More”, as well as “Womanizer” and “Circus”.
The exact sale price wasn’t revealed, but sources suggest it’s around 200 million USD, making it one of the biggest artist rights acquisitions this decade, comparable to the sale of Justin Bieber’s catalog in 2023.
According to Rolling Stone, Sony Music retains ownership of the original master recordings, but Primary Wave will collect the income from streaming, TV placements, and commercial licenses from Britney’s share.
This is one of Britney's most significant business moves since ending her controversial conservatorship in 2021. The singer is currently represented by manager Cade Hudson.
Selling music catalogs has become a major trend in recent years. Legends like Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan, and Stevie Nicks have also cashed in on their rights.
