Justin Bieber Sells His Music Rights for $200 Million
Justin Bieber NFT Bored Ape 3001
The 28‑year‑old pop star cashes in on his catalogue, selling rights to 291 songs to Hipgnosis Songs Capital.
Date & scope: On January 24, 2023, Justin Bieber sold rights tied to 291 songs he released or had an interest in through the end of 2021 to Hipgnosis Songs Capital.
Reported price: The deal was valued around $200 million.
What changed hands: Hipgnosis acquired Bieber’s publishing copyrights, neighboring rights, and his artist royalty income stream from the master recordings (UMG still owns the masters).
Context: At age 28, it was touted as one of the biggest catalog deals for an artist under 70, underscoring the streaming era’s catalog gold‑rush.
What happened
On January 24, 2023, Bieber closed a headline‑making catalog transaction with Hipgnosis Songs Capital (the Blackstone‑backed vehicle advised by Hipgnosis Song Management). The sale covered 291 tracks through December 31, 2021, including global hits like “Baby,” “Sorry,” and “Love Yourself,” with a reported price near $200 million.
Rights breakdown (plain English):
Sold: 100% of Bieber’s publishing copyrights, neighboring rights, and his artist royalties on the masters.
Not sold: Ownership of the master recordings—these remain with Universal Music Group; Hipgnosis now collects Bieber’s artist share of master royalties via UMG. UMPG continues to administer Bieber’s publishing. (Music Business Worldwide)
Who is Hipgnosis Songs Capital?
A private Blackstone‑backed partnership launched in 2021 to invest in music rights and IP. (Blackstone)
Why it matters
Bieber’s sale marked a turning point: streaming‑era superstars, not just legacy acts, were monetizing catalogs at scale. Merck Mercuriadis framed it as among the largest for an artist under 70, reinforcing investor belief that recognizable catalogs are durable, yield‑like assets. For artists, such deals deliver up‑front diversification and let them focus on new projects while professional managers optimize licensing and syncs. (The Guardian)
By the numbers (at the time):
~69M Spotify monthly listeners and 30B+ streams—scale that helps underwrite long‑term income projections for catalog owners. (AP News)
Rule Mobile Take
The Bieber–Hipgnosis deal showed how royalty cash flows can be packaged like infrastructure: predictable, data‑rich, and tradable. For fans, nothing changes day‑to‑day—songs stay on platforms—but you may see more placements (films, ads, games) as new owners work the catalog.
What to watch next
Brand update (2025): Hipgnosis’ Blackstone‑owned music business has since rebranded to Recognition Music Group, consolidating assets under a single umbrella. The Bieber catalog now sits within that portfolio. (Music Ally, Digital Music News)
Market temperature: Rising rates cooled deal volume after 2022, but trophy catalogs still fetch premium prices (e.g., Queen reports in 2024). Expect selective buying and creative financing over blanket acquisition sprees. (Variety Australia)
FAQ (quick hits)
Did he sell future music? No. The sale covered works through 2021. New music is separate.
Do songs disappear or change on streaming? No immediate change; ownership of rights—not availability—shifted.
Masters vs. publishing—what’s the difference? Publishing = composition (lyrics/melody). Masters = recorded performance. Bieber sold publishing and his artist royalties on masters; UMG still owns the masters.
Sources & Credits
The Guardian — deal date, 291 songs, reported value, and “under‑70” context. (The Guardian)
Fortune — reported ~$200M valuation. (Fortune)
Washington Post — what rights were transferred (publishing, master‑royalty stream, neighboring rights) and UMG retains masters. (The Washington Post)
Music Business Worldwide — industry breakdown: artist royalty stream on masters via UMG; UMPG administering publishing. (Music Business Worldwide)
Pitchfork — confirmation that UMG retains master ownership. (Pitchfork)
AP News — contemporaneous scale indicators (Spotify listeners & streams). (AP News)
Digital Music News / Music Ally — 2025 rebrand to Recognition Music Group. (Digital Music News, Music Ally)
Optional editor’s note (for RuleMobile.com)
Slug:
justin-bieber-sells-music-rights-200mTags: Music Business, Catalog Sales, Hipgnosis, Recognition Music Group, Streaming Economy
Social caption: “At 28, Bieber cashed in: 291 songs, ~$200M, and a blueprint for streaming‑era catalog deals.”
