Bob Dylan has sold the master recordings of his entire back catalogue to Sony in a deal reportedly worth almost £150million.
The deal was concluded in July last year and comprises the entirety of Dylan’s recorded body of work since 1962, starting with his first self-titled album right the way through to his 2020 Rough and Rowdy Ways album.
In total, it consists of 39 studio albums, 16 ‘Bootleg Series’ compilation of outtakes, live recordings and other singles and rarities.
The 11-time Grammy award-winning singer has also extended his recording contract with Sony Music Entertainment’s (SME) imprint Columbia Records, with ‘multiple future new releases’ being promised in a press release – the move will extend a six-decade relationship between the artist and the label.
Announcing the decision, Sony Music Group’s chairman Rob Stringer said: ‘Columbia Records has had a special relationship with Bob Dylan from the beginning of his career and we are tremendously proud and excited to be continuing to grow and evolve our ongoing 60-year partnership.
‘Bob is one of music’s greatest icons and an artist of unrivalled genius. We are excited to work with Bob and his team to find new ways to make his music available to his many fans today and to future generations.’
Major labels and music groups continue to buy up back catalogues and song rights for some of the major music icons, including David Bowie, Bob Dylan, Tina Turner and plenty more.
Dylan, meanwhile, commented: ‘Columbia Records and Rob Stringer have been nothing but good to me for many, many years and a whole lot of records. I’m glad that all my recordings can stay where they belong.’
Columbia Records first signed Dylan in October 1961 by the label’s John Hammond, sparking of course one of music’s most iconic careers.
The major acquisition follows the sale of Dylan’s publishing rights to Universal Music at the end of 2020 for a reported $400 million.
It comes during something of a buying spree for the music industry, with major labels and music groups continuing to buy up back catalogues and song rights for some of the major music icons, including David Bowie, Tina Turner and Bruce Springsteen – the latter of which was also bought by Sony in December last year for a reported $500 million, in a deal that covered both his recordings and publishing rights.
Considering his deals for both his publishing rights and, now, his master records, Bob Dylan appears to be one of the highest-paid artists from the result of these back catalogue sales.
