David Bowie
Warner secured the rights to all songs by the pop icon
David Bowie continues to generate revenue.
© imago images / Prod.DB
The music publisher Warner Chappell Music has secured the rights to all songs by superstar David Bowie, who died in 2016.
Sony recently bought the rights to all songs by Bruce Springsteen (72) for a record sum of allegedly over $ 500 million. Now the Warner Music Group is following suit. The company secured itself according to “Variety“all compositions and lyrics by David Bowie (1947-2016).
The music publisher Warner Chappell Music, which belongs to the entertainment group, put down over 250 million dollars (approx. 221 million euros) for the rights to hits such as “Heroes” and “Space Oddity”, according to the industry journal.
The administrators of Bowie’s estate had therefore been in negotiations with Warner for months. The company already owned the rights to the British musician’s recordings, and now the rights to the songs and lyrics themselves are being added.
“All of us at Warner Chappell are incredibly proud that David Bowie’s heirs have chosen us to hold one of the most groundbreaking, influential and enduring catalogs in music history,” said Warner Chappell CEO Guy Moot. “These are not just extraordinary songs, but milestones that have changed the course of modern music forever.”
David Bowie’s 75th birthday deal
Warner bagged the deal just in time for Bowie’s birthday: The singer would have turned 75 on January 8th. The exceptional artist is remembered all over the world. Pop-up stores dedicated to the pop icon are opening in London and New York. Deutsche Post is honoring the versatile artist with a special postage stamp.
The new album “Toy” will be released on Friday, a collection of new recordings and interpretations of the early songs of the late exceptional artist. The new LP is now also paying for Warner.