The deal is said to be worth some $250 million and is the latest in a flurry of such sales by big-name artists.
New York — David Bowie’s estate has sold the publishing rights to his «entire body of work» to Warner Chappell Music, the company said Monday, the latest massive deal in a roaring song rights purchasing boom. Warner Chappell didn’t reveal financial terms of the agreement, but according to trade publications the price tag is estimated at upwards of $250 million. Recent years have seen a series of blockbuster music rights acquisitions by corporations — including from superstars, Bob Dylan and Tina Turner — a trend driven by the anticipated stability of the growth of streaming combined with low interest rates and dependable earning projections for time-tested hits. The Bowie deal includes hundreds of songs spanning the glam rock pioneer’s six-decade career, including «Space Oddity,» «Changes,» «Life on Mars?» and «Heroes.» «All of us at Warner Chappell are immensely proud that the David Bowie estate has chosen us to be the caretakers of one of the most groundbreaking, influential, and enduring catalogs in music history,» Guy Moot, head of WCM, said in a statement. «These are not only extraordinary songs, but milestones that have changed the course of modern music forever.» Warner now houses Bowie’s work as a songwriter as well as a recording artist. The owners of a song’s publishing rights receive a cut in a number of scenarios, including radio play and streaming, album sales, and use in advertising and movies.
