Sony Music is currently in talks with the band Queen to buy their back catalog in a first-of-its-kind deal worth $1 billion. The record company is currently working with another investor to acquire the rights to the British rock band’s best-selling hits. Queen members Brian May, Roger Taylor, John Deacon and the estate of former frontman Freddie Mercury are equal shareholders in the band. This sale would see Queen join the growing list of artists who have sold their catalogs to music investment funds and private companies. Bob Dylan sold the publishing rights to his entire catalog from the last 60 years to Universal Music Group in December 2020 for $300 million. Sony Music also spent $600 million for half of Michael Jackson’s catalog in the largest-ever deal for the work of a solo artist.
