Pink Floyd sells catalog to Sony Music for $400M after years of legal battles
After years of contentious negotiations and battles, Pink Floyd has sold the rights to its entire music catalog, name, and likeness to Sony Music for a reported $400M.
The landmark deal, finalized this week, gives Sony the rights to the band’s merchandise and media spin-off, while copyright to the songs will remain with the band’s members.
The British rock legends, whose best-selling albums such as The Dark Side of the Moon, Wish You Were Here, The Wall, and Atom Heart Mother have collectively sold more than 250 million records worldwide, have agreed to a deal following a period of tumultuous negotiations. The band is the latest addition to Sony Music’s impressive lineup, which already includes Queen, Bob Dylan, and Bruce Springsteen, all of whom have sold out their catalogs similarly.
Pink Floyd’s legacy has been fraught with controversy, particularly among the surviving members, including outspoken bassist Roger Waters and guitarist David Gilmour. A tax dispute and Waters’ controversial political comments delayed the planned $500M sale two years ago, with buyers such as Hipgnosis, Warner Music, and BMG left out of the deal. Waters has sparked controversy with statements about Israel, Palestine and Ukraine, which led BMG to cut ties with him earlier this year.
The final deal was not without problems, involving Gilmour, drummer Nick Mason, and the replacements of late keyboardist Richard Wright and original founder Syd Barrett. Gilmour expressed relief at the sale, telling *The Washington Post* that he wanted to avoid burdening his children with the club’s legacy and that he was tired of managing it after nearly four decades of conflict.
As Pink Floyd moved forward under Sony management, the band remained a cultural icon. They continue to amass millions of listeners on streaming platforms like Spotify, and their influence on music history is enduring. Last year, the band celebrated the 50th anniversary of *The Dark Side of the Moon* with a special box set, and while their last studio album, *The Endless River*, was released in 2014, their music remains as relevant as ever. .
David Gilmour, who was on the Luck and Strange Tour, expressed a little concern about the use of Pink Floyd’s image in the future, saying, “I’ll be dead. Who gives *** what man made?” With this historic deal, the band closes a chapter of decades of musical legacy, leaving it in the hands of Sony Music for future generations to hear.
