• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia

Trendingnow

1

Now worth $200 million, Sarah Jessica Parker credits being ‘one of eight kids that struggled financially’ for her hunger, ambition, and work ethic

2

The Pentagon said Iran War costs $29 billion, but the real cost is closer to $200 billion—and counting

3

Amazon's record Prime Day masks a darker truth: Americans are spending more and getting less

1

Now worth $200 million, Sarah Jessica Parker credits being ‘one of eight kids that struggled financially’ for her hunger, ambition, and work ethic

2

The Pentagon said Iran War costs $29 billion, but the real cost is closer to $200 billion—and counting

3

Amazon's record Prime Day masks a darker truth: Americans are spending more and getting less
Finance

Justin Timberlake just sold his song catalog to a Blackstone-backed firm that has been spending billions on music IP for nearly half a decade

By
Colin Lodewick
Colin Lodewick
Down Arrow Button Icon
By
Colin Lodewick
Colin Lodewick
Down Arrow Button Icon
May 26, 2022, 4:50 PM ET
Add Fortune on Google for similar content.

Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen … Justin Timberlake? 

They’re all part of the same club now, as musicians selling the rights to their precious platinum-selling catalogs, a practice that began to take off in 2020 when Dylan, 81, sold his for an estimated $300 million. 

Two years after Dylan sold his songwriting catalog to Universal Music Publishing Group, he sold his recorded music catalog to Sony Music, likely for a similarly high price tag. Bruce Springsteen, 72, sold his recorded music and songwriting catalogs to Sony around the same time for over $500 million.

Timberlake is one of the youngest to monetize his publishing, though, and he didn’t sell to a record label but to an entity called Hipgnosis Song Management. The deal closed at just over $100 million, the Wall Street Journal reported, and it involves Blackstone, the private equity firm founded by billionaire Stephen Shwartzman that was the biggest in the world as of 2021.

So what is Hipgnosis, and what is Blackstone’s role?

Founded in 2018 by music industry veteran Merck Mercuriadis, the UK-based Hipgnosis was founded as an “investment trust” with the sole purpose of investing in music publishing rights. 

In a little over two years, The New York Times reported, it had listed on the London Stock Exchange and spent about $1.7 billion acquiring more than 57,000 songs. The firm has struck several Timberlake-like deals with young artists, including Shakira, Benny Blanco, and Jack Antonoff.

Last October, Hipgnosis entered into a new partnership in which Blackstone provided approximately $1 billion in funds to acquire more music rights and catalogs.

“Hipgnosis Song Management has firmly established songs as an asset class,” Mercuriadis said in a release following that partnership announcement. He said the funds will allow the company “to invest in proven songs as well as grow our song management team and bring additional sophistication to HSM.” Blackstone acquired an ownership stake in Hipgnosis as part of the deal. 

While the purchase doesn’t include songs Timberlake performed but didn’t write, such as NSNYC’s iconic “Bye, Bye, Bye” and “This I Promise You,” it does encompass much of his solo career’s production. That includes songs like “SexyBack” and “Suit and Tie.”

“I look forward to entering this next chapter,” said Timberlake in a statement.

Not all acquisitions are so happy or straightforward. In 2020, entertainment executive Scooter Braun sold the rights to Taylor Swift’s catalog without her consent to private equity firm Shamrock Holdings after acquiring Big Machine Label Group, which owned her first six albums. 

Swift is currently in the process of re-recording and releasing those records in order to regain control of her music. Last year, she shared the second such effort: Red (Taylor’s Version). 

An artist doesn’t even need to be alive for an acquisition to proceed. In January, Warner Music Group announced that it had acquired David Bowie’s back catalog for over $200 million. 

“This fantastic pact with the David Bowie estate opens up a universe of opportunities to take his extraordinary music into dynamic new places,” said Warner Chappell Music co-chair and COO Carianne Marshall in a statement accompanying that acquisition.

Since announcing its partnership with Blackstone, Hipgnosis has made at least two other acquisitions. In January, it announced 80% interest in Kenny Chesney’s recorded music catalog, and in March it announced a deal to acquire part of Leonard Cohen’s songwriting catalog. Timberlake’s deal is likely the firm’s largest since last fall’s major investment.

Hipgnosis Song Management did not immediately respond to Fortune’s request for comment.

Sign up for the Fortune Features email list so you don’t miss our biggest features, exclusive interviews, and investigations.

About the Author
By Colin Lodewick
See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon
Add Fortune on Google for similar content.

Latest in Finance

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Fortune Secondary Logo
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • World's Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
  • Lists Calendar
Sections
  • Finance
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
  • Group Subscriptions
About Us
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • Pinterest icon

Latest in Finance

Man in a suit and tie
InvestingAmazon
Bill Ackman, David Tepper, and other billionaire fund managers are quietly piling into Amazon
By Amanda GerutJune 25, 2026
3 hours ago
Ikea’s billionaire founder was so frugal that he bought clothes from flea markets and took free salt and pepper from restaurants
SuccessBillionaires
Ikea’s billionaire founder was so frugal that he bought clothes from flea markets and took free salt and pepper from restaurants
By Orianna Rosa RoyleJune 25, 2026
3 hours ago
Current ARM mortgage rates report for June 25, 2026
Personal FinanceReal Estate
Current ARM mortgage rates report for June 25, 2026
By Glen Luke FlanaganJune 25, 2026
3 hours ago
Current refi mortgage rates report for June 25, 2026
Personal FinanceReal Estate
Current refi mortgage rates report for June 25, 2026
By Glen Luke FlanaganJune 25, 2026
3 hours ago
Mortgage rates today, June 25, 2026
Personal Financemortgages
Mortgage rates today, June 25, 2026
By Glen Luke FlanaganJune 25, 2026
3 hours ago
MacKenzie Scott alone accounted for one-third of America’s $19.2 billion in megagifts last year
SuccessMacKenzie Scott
MacKenzie Scott alone accounted for one-third of America’s $19.2 billion in megagifts last year
By Sydney LakeJune 25, 2026
3 hours ago

Most Popular

Now worth $200 million, Sarah Jessica Parker credits being ‘one of eight kids that struggled financially’ for her hunger, ambition, and work ethic
Success
Now worth $200 million, Sarah Jessica Parker credits being ‘one of eight kids that struggled financially’ for her hunger, ambition, and work ethic
By Orianna Rosa RoyleJune 24, 2026
1 day ago
The Pentagon said Iran War costs $29 billion, but the real cost is closer to $200 billion—and counting
Economy
The Pentagon said Iran War costs $29 billion, but the real cost is closer to $200 billion—and counting
By Jacqueline MunisJune 24, 2026
1 day ago
Amazon's record Prime Day masks a darker truth: Americans are spending more and getting less
Retail
Amazon's record Prime Day masks a darker truth: Americans are spending more and getting less
By Nick LichtenbergJune 24, 2026
19 hours ago
After forcing workers back to the office, Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan Chase are now letting their staff work remotely—but only for the World Cup
Success
After forcing workers back to the office, Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan Chase are now letting their staff work remotely—but only for the World Cup
By Orianna Rosa RoyleJune 23, 2026
2 days ago
Ray Dalio just finished a 10-day trip to China. He says global leaders know America ‘doesn’t have what it takes to fight to maintain its empire’
Asia
Ray Dalio just finished a 10-day trip to China. He says global leaders know America ‘doesn’t have what it takes to fight to maintain its empire’
By Nick LichtenbergJune 24, 2026
21 hours ago
Trump’s international student crackdown kicked off a domino effect that could shave nearly $500 billion off the economy
Economy
Trump’s international student crackdown kicked off a domino effect that could shave nearly $500 billion off the economy
By Tristan BoveJune 24, 2026
16 hours ago

© 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.