Paul Simon has sold his publishing rights to Sony Music Publishing, the company announced Wednesday — marking the latest blockbuster catalog deal in the booming music-rights acquisition space.
Sony bought the total collection of his catalog, a spokesperson said, but declined to give financial details of the deal.
With the acquisition, Sony now owns one of the most celebrated song catalogs of the past 50 years, including classic tracks like Simon and Garfunkel’s “The Boxer,” “Mrs. Robinson,” and the “Sound of Silence” along with Simon’s solo works like “Me and Julio Down By The Schoolyard” and “Graceland.”
Bob Dylan sold his catalog for nearly $400 million in his deal with Universal Music Publishing Group, sources have told Rolling Stone, while Stevie Nicks reportedly took $100 million in her publishing sale with Primary Wave. Other prominent legacy acts including Neil Young and Lindsay Buckingham have sold their publishing rights this year while Mick Fleetwood sold his recorded rights to BMG.
Rolling Stone