Los Angeles: The iconic English band Pink Floyd, known for their groundbreaking influence in psychedelic and progressive rock, has officially sold their recorded music rights and name-and- likeness rights for an estimated $400 million.
According to a report from ‘Variety’, the band has transferred their music rights to Sony Music.
This transaction is one of the most significant in recent years and marks the culmination of decades filled with internal conflicts and disputes, especially between the band’s principal songwriters, Roger Waters and David Gilmour. Drummer Nick Mason, along with the estates of keyboardist Richard Wright and founding member Roger “Syd” Barrett, are also part of this historic deal.
As reported by ‘Variety’, the agreement covers the rights to the band’s recorded music but excludes songwriting rights, which remain with the individual writers. It also encompasses name-and-likeness rights, involving merchandise, theatrical productions, and similar avenues.
While Pink Floyd has maintained a certain level of anonymity regarding their personal identities, most of the iconic artwork associated with their albums—largely created by the British design firm Hipgnosis—is included in the sale.
From a business perspective, Pink Floyd’s recorded music catalogue, along with its merchandising rights, stands out as one of the most lucrative assets in the modern music industry. It features timeless albums such as ‘Dark Side of the Moon’, ‘The Wall’, ‘Wish You Were Here’, ‘Animals’, ‘Meddle’, and ‘Piper at the Gates of Dawn’.
In recent years, Sony has invested more than a billion dollars to acquire catalogues from legendary artists such as Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan, and Queen’s non-North American rights, often in partnership with investment firms like Eldridge Industries. However, the company has remained tight-lipped about these transactions.
The catalogue had been on the market for several years, with an initial asking price of $500 million. The band was reportedly close to a deal in 2022, but ongoing disputes—primarily stemming from Roger Waters’ controversial political views on Israel, Ukraine, and Russia—complicated the negotiations and deterred potential buyers.
