Sony Music is reportedly closing in on one of the biggest music catalogue acquisitions in recent history.
According to sources familiar with the matter, Sony is currently in exclusive negotiations to acquire Recognition Music Group — a company that either owns or manages the rights to more than 45,000 songs, including works by Justin Bieber and Neil Young.
The deal is expected to be made through a joint venture between Sony and Singapore’s sovereign wealth fund GIC, with the acquisition reportedly valued between US$3.5 billion and US$4 billion.
Neither Sony Music nor Blackstone Inc. (which owns the Recognition Music Group catalogue) have commented publicly on the negotiations.
Blackstone, which amassed a major portfolio of music rights over the past decade through Hipgnosis Songs Management, previously acquired Bieber’s catalogue for more than US$200 million. The investment giant also secured rights to songs by Justin Timberlake in a separate deal reportedly worth over US$100 million.
Sony already administers the catalogue and is believed to be racing to close the deal within the next week, though reports suggest talks could still collapse at the final stage. Other interested buyers had reportedly attempted to outbid Sony, but Blackstone is said to have remained focused on discussions with Sony’s publishing division.
The acquisition would mark the latest in a string of blockbuster music rights deals this year, following Concord’s merger with BMG and Kobalt’s sale to Primary Wave Music. Major labels such as Sony, Universal Music Group, and Warner Music Group have increasingly partnered with investment firms to compete in the booming — though slowing — catalogue acquisition market.
As streaming continues to reshape the value of legacy recordings and publishing rights, music catalogues remain one of the industry’s hottest assets, with investors continuing to pour billions into securing iconic songs and artist repertoires.
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