Sony Music’s landmark Queen catalog acquisition is getting closer to being “official.”
According to reports over the past few weeks, Sony Music Group has agreed to acquire the legendary rock band’s recordings, in a deal said to be worth approx. £1 billion ($1.27 billion at current exchange rates).
exist £1 billion At the price tag, the deal would be the largest artist catalog deal in music history.
It is understood that Sony will buy the band’s global music publishing rights, their “name and likeness rights”, and their recorded music rights – including their recording rights outside North America, and their master tapes’ rights outside North America belong to the company all. disney music group.
(Sony has managed Queen’s publishing rights, and the band’s recorded music is currently available through universal music group.)
Separately, MBW sources told us earlier this month that the noise is getting louder, Apollo Global Management is a co-investor in the deal.
Sony Music has yet to confirm these reports, but today (July 16) we can show you the clearest evidence yet that Sony Music is taking control of Queen’s assets.
Queen’s surviving ‘classic’ band members, according to documents made public by UK Companies House and reviewed by MBW Brian May, Roger Taylor and John Deacon cease to be a director QUEEN PRODUCTIONS LIMITED.
Queen Productions Ltd. is a UK-based company that owns the band’s discography Outside the United States and Canada. It also collects the band’s turnover, including recording and synchronization royalties and performance income.
band members possible, tyler and deacon Appears to have resigned as director Queen Productions Ltd. As of June 26th.
Neil Adleman is a lawyer whose resume shows he has worked with clients including Queen and previously served as QUEEN PRODUCTIONS LIMITED. Adelman’s appointment also terminated on June 26.
Interestingly, on the same day (July 10) that the director’s notice of termination was submitted, Queen Productions limited company Registered office address changed to 2 canal sections, This is Sony Music Entertainment The registered office address is London.
Effective June 26, Queen Productions Limited has also appointed a new director: Charles Henry Stamford. According to LinkedIn, Stanford is a senior executive at Sony Music.
Queen Productions Limited released its latest annual financial report last month, showing the company’s financial performance for the 2023 financial year (ending at the end of September last year).
The company reported GBP £39.47 million Revenue for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2023. $49.1 million.
In addition to terminating his directorship Queen Productions Ltd.As of June 26, all three surviving “classic” members of Queen are no longer serving queen music ltd.owns the rights to Queen’s music publishing catalog, which is managed by Sony Music Publishing.
A new On June 26, Queen Music Ltd. appointed directors, but: Tim MajorJoint Managing Director Sony Music Publishing UK.
The registered address of Queen Music Ltd. has also been changed to the same address as Sony Music’s registered address in London.
Exceed Queen Productions Ltd. and Queen Music Co., Ltd., MBW has identified a further 16 UK-registered companies linked to surviving Queen members or the estate of Freddie Mercury, which as of June 26 are currently headed by Charles Stanley or Tim Major director.
Other noteworthy director resignations at some of these companies include mary austin (Goose Productions) inherited much of Freddie Mercury’s fortune, as well as Queen’s longtime manager Jim Beach (Goose Productions and Mercury Songs).
The registered addresses of these UK entities have also all been changed to Sony Music’s registered office address in London: 2 canal sections.
These companies include:
bohemian theater productions ltd.
We Will Rock You Ltd.
Queen’s Theater Productions Ltd.
Queen Travel Co., Ltd.
Mercury Songs Spin-Off Holdings Ltd.
Nighthawk Spin-Off Holdings Ltd.
Queen Online Ltd.
ducklock co., ltd.
Duck Spin-Off Holdings Ltd.
Nimbus Production Co., Ltd.
queen film co., ltd.
We Will Rock You Films Ltd.
NIGHTHAWK ROCK LIMITED.
Mercury Songs Rockco Ltd.
Goldfinch Productions Ltd.
Goose Productions Ltd.
Queen’s musical catalog, including publishing and recording rights, is owned jointly and equally by the band’s surviving “classic” lineup (Brian May, Roger Taylor, John Deacon) and the estate of Freddie Mercury Land owned.
disney music group (through its ownership of Hollywood Records) owns the rights to Queen’s recorded music in North America; the band owns them elsewhere in the world. (DMG has a global distribution deal with Universal Music Group.)
The number of clicks It was reported last month that UMG, as Disney’s publisher, would retain distribution rights in North America, although Sony would receive royalties.
UMG’s global distribution rights will transfer to Sony in 2026 or 2027, making Sony Music the sole global distributor and owner of all Queen content.
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